Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Monday that Russia is preparing a "massive attack" on Ukraine, timed to coincide with the U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday. Zelenskyy accused Moscow of seeking to exploit the historical vote as a distraction to unleash strikes while global attention is focused elsewhere.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy stated that intelligence indicates Russia is planning a new "massive attack" targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure and logistics. "The assumption is basically that tomorrow the world will be watching the American midterms, and what is happening here in Ukraine, along with our difficulties with air defense and Patriot missiles, will be overlooked," he said.
This warning comes as voters prepare to decide which party will control Congress, a result that could impact Washington's future support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy urged the U.S. and its allies to signal to Russia that such actions will lead to serious economic consequences. "We must put pressure on Russia in such a way that it has no alternative but to end this war. America can do this," he stated.
Earlier on Monday, Russian forces reportedly struck a school in Komyshuvakha, in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, which was being used to distribute humanitarian aid. Ukrainska Pravda reported that at least 26 people were killed, with others injured or missing.
Zelenskyy has previously called for increased air defense assistance from the U.S. and Europe. In a recent interview, he indicated Ukraine would pause strikes on Russian oil refineries for a month if Washington provided Patriot missile interceptors during the same period, potentially opening avenues for diplomacy.
The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles to Ukraine for an estimated $2.1 billion, though the delivery timeline remains uncertain.
Ukraine has also accused Russia of exploiting a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky, in the southern Kherson region, to reinforce its military positions. According to Ukraine's General Staff, Russian forces used the pause to rotate troops, improve defenses, and enhance battlefield logistics, contrasting with Ukrainian forces adhering to the agreed-upon terms.