Zelensky warns of Russian strike preparations, urges Ukrainians to heed alerts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is preparing a large-scale strike and urged Ukrainian citizens to take air raid alerts seriously and move to shelter promptly when warnings are issued.

Zelensky's comments come amid a continuing pattern of Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian officials have periodically warned of upcoming large-scale attacks based on intelligence assessments and observed Russian military preparations, often tied to efforts to degrade Ukraine's energy grid and other critical infrastructure ahead of the winter months.

In his statement, Zelensky emphasized that public compliance with air raid warnings remains critical to reducing casualties, noting that alerts are typically issued with enough advance notice for residents to reach shelters or protected areas. He did not specify the expected timing, scale or likely targets of the anticipated strike.

Ukraine's air defense systems, bolstered by Western-supplied equipment, have intercepted a significant share of Russian missiles and drones during previous large-scale attacks, though strikes have still caused civilian casualties and damage to homes, hospitals and power facilities in various regions.

Russia has not publicly commented on the specific claims made by Zelensky regarding strike preparations. The Kremlin has consistently said its military actions in Ukraine target military and infrastructure assets tied to Ukraine's war effort, a characterization Ukrainian and Western officials dispute, citing extensive damage to civilian areas.