Russian Ballistic Missiles Hit Kyiv Before the Sirens; Air Force Says No Launch Data Arrived
Ukraine's Air Force says it received no launch data and saw the Oct. 12 salvo only on radar, mid-flight. President Zelensky says no partner sent a warning.
Ukraine's Air Force says it received no launch data and saw the Oct. 12 salvo only on radar, mid-flight. President Zelensky says no partner sent a warning.
Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv late on Oct. 12 before the air-raid alert sounded. Kyiv Independent journalists in the capital heard powerful blasts shortly after 10 p.m., then sirens and phone alerts.
The missiles hit at 10:10 p.m., and radar picked them up only while the attack was under way, Ukraine's Air Force said. "No information about launches from enemy territory had been received. The reasons are being established," its statement read.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Kyiv on Oct. 12?
Russian ballistic missiles struck the capital at about 10:10 p.m., and the air-raid alert sounded only after the first explosions, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a transport infrastructure facility and a four-storey warehouse were hit.
Why did the sirens come late?
Ukraine's Air Force said its radar detected the missiles only while the attack was under way and that it had received no information about launches from Russian territory. It is still establishing why.
How many missiles were fired?
The Air Force first reported what it believed were six ballistic missiles. Its Oct. 13 morning tally listed five Iskander-M/S-400 missiles launched from Russia's Bryansk region, the figure President Volodymyr Zelensky also used.
Did the United States cut off intelligence to Ukraine?
Nobody has established that. The Kyiv Independent reported on Oct. 12 that Washington had threatened to suspend intelligence sharing, but Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Oct. 13 that the cooperation continues, and Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat pointed to possible technical issues.
What else did Russia launch that night?
Nine S-8000 Banderol munitions at Kharkiv and 108 Shahed-type drones, 74 of them jet-powered, by the Air Force's count. Air defenses downed or suppressed 88 drones, and the State Emergency Service put Kharkiv's toll at four dead and 41 wounded.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.