Key facts
- Kyiv was attacked by at least five ballistic missiles on the night of Oct. 12, hitting civilian infrastructure.
- Air raid alerts in Kyiv sounded during the missile attack, not before, prompting questions about intelligence sharing.
- The French Navy intercepted the DF Peak tanker in the Indian Ocean, suspected of transporting sanctioned Russian fuel.
- Donald Trump claimed Ukraine and Russia agreed to an energy strike ceasefire because he said they agreed.
- Two cargo ships were hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast on Oct. 13, resulting in 11 missing crew members.
Kyiv was struck by multiple ballistic missiles on the night of Oct. 12, with explosions heard in the city center before air raid sirens were activated. Ukraine's Air Force stated that Russia launched six ballistic missiles, while President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that five missiles hit civilian infrastructure. Zelensky described the attack as "particularly vile" and expressed concern over the lack of advance warning from international partners, which he said is critical for saving lives.
The delayed air raid alert has fueled speculation on Ukrainian social media regarding potential U.S. threats to suspend intelligence sharing over Kyiv's alleged strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated on Oct. 13 that intelligence cooperation with the U.S. remains ongoing.
In a separate incident, the French Navy intercepted the tanker DF Peak in the Indian Ocean on Oct. 12. The vessel, previously named Kaliningrad, is suspected of operating under a false flag and transporting sanctioned Russian fuel. French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed France's commitment to combating illicit trafficking at sea.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to a ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes, stating that the agreement was made because he had said so. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv has confirmed such a ceasefire. Trump also suggested that violations had occurred from both sides following his announcement.
Separately, two cargo ships were hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast overnight on Oct. 13. The Maltese-flagged Chelsea 3, owned by a Ukrainian company, was struck by three drones. Another vessel sank after being hit, with 11 crew members reported missing at sea.