Kyiv, Ukraine – The supernova-like blasts of exploding Russian ballistic missiles are followed by thunderous thumps, shockwaves, fires and deaths – and the staccato of Ukrainian air defence systems. This week’s nightly attacks on Ukraine that killed at least 15 and wounded dozens resembled hundreds of previous raids – with one exception. The air raid sirens began howling just seconds before or after yet another wave of missiles struck apartment buildings, power plants and warehouses.
But Ukraine’s partners did not provide the country with intelligence data from NATO’s early-warning satellites, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday, as tensions between Washington and Kyiv rise. He did not name the United States and President Donald Trump has denied that Washington has stopped sharing intelligence. The constellation of military satellites detects Russian ballistic missile attacks by the rockets’ thermal flames seconds after launch.
The warnings give Ukrainians up to 10 minutes – precious, life-saving time to sound air raid sirens and send emergency text messages to prompt evacuations to bomb shelters. Ukraine’s ground radars can only detect the incoming missiles as their speed ranges from 6,000 to 12,000km/h (3,730 – 7,260 miles per hour). Despite Trump’s denial, Ukrainian observers have a simple yet harrowing explanation – the US president wants to help Republicans win more congressional seats in upcoming midterm elections by pressuring Kyiv into declaring an “energy ceasefire” with Moscow that would drive global oil prices down.
The lack of intelligence data “significantly affects the effectiveness of air defence, we don’t have time to respond,” he said. Without the satellite data, Ukrainian drones and missiles also “lose precision when striking targets deep in Russia,” he said. On Sunday, Trump announced the ceasefire that envisages no mutual strikes on energy infrastructure – from Russian oil refineries and fuel depots to Ukrainian power and heating stations.
Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” Trump wrote on social media. Kyiv said the announcement was a surprise, while Moscow declined to say whether it backs the idea – and kept on hitting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The pressure goes beyond the refineries as Trump wants to quickly reopen, arbitrate and complete peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow – even if they benefit the Kremlin. Ideally, it is a certain unblocking of the peace settlement process, when Kyiv shows more willingness to agree with Russia’s demands,” Kyiv-based analyst Igar Tyshkevych told Al Jazeera. The pressure will continue until “Kyiv shows readiness for a compromise and concessions towards Russia,” he said.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
