Zelensky: ‘Russian attacks are underway; Moscow is exploiting our problems with Starlink.’ FBI director flies to Russia

“The attack involving Shahed drones,” explained Zelensky, “damaged civilian infrastructure: a residential building and a shop. More attacks, more terror. And all this comes after a massive night-time attack on the energy sector, whilst restoration work is still underway in Kyiv, the Kyiv region and the Kharkiv region.”

“This is deliberate and constant pressure on our people,” the Ukrainian President emphasised. “Russia is once again demonstrating what its true intentions are. It is a deliberate continuation of the war, in defiance of the appeals from America and the US President.”

Three people were killed in the capital, Kyiv, two in the central region of Dnipropetrovsk and one in the south-eastern region of Zaporizhzhia, according to figures provided by regional officials.

Residents of Kyiv heard the explosions from the Russian air strikes before the air-raid sirens sounded, something that had rarely happened in the past. On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials attributed the situation to the Russian military’s use of missiles that are difficult to detect or to potential technical problems. Zelensky lamented the fact that none of the allies had warned of the impending attack.

On Sunday, US President Trump took everyone by surprise with a sudden announcement of an ‘energy ceasefire’ on his social media platform Truth Social, claiming that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to end their long-range attacks on power stations and oil refineries. Trump has repeatedly criticised Zelenskyy over the attacks on Russian oil refineries and on Saturday suggested that it was ‘time for Ukraine to have a new president’.

The latest attacks come ahead of the Ukrainian president’s visit to the UK, which is due to take place today.

Il primo ministro britannico Andy Burnham (a sinistra) incontra il presidente ucraino Volodymyr Zelensky (a destra) a Downing Street, a Londra, in Gran Bretagna, il 14 ottobre 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL / POOL

“We stand by your side, and that will not change.” This is how British Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street, reiterating that the UK’s support for Ukraine is not set to change. Burnham spoke of “dark and difficult” days for Ukraine, which has been hit by “heavy bombardment over the last 24 hours”, and said that President Zelensky is “ready to sit down and discuss” the energy truce proposed by Donald Trump. “Unfortunately, what we have seen from Russia are further attacks on critical national infrastructure in Ukraine,” the Prime Minister added.

Il primo ministro britannico Andy Burnham (a destra) saluta il presidente ucraino Volodymyr Zelensky (a sinistra) al termine di un incontro al numero 10 di Downing Street a Londra, in Gran Bretagna, il 14 ottobre 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL

Earlier in the day, addressing Parliament, the British Prime Minister had stated that he would seek to ‘rebuild bridges’ between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Zelensky. “My task, in my role, is to try to mend relations so that support can be restored. That is the role I intend to play,” he said.

“The UK has already allocated 1.6 billion pounds (2.1 billion dollars) to supply Ukraine with over 5,000 LMM missiles over the next four years and will fast-track the disbursement of 10 million pounds – part of the 45 million missile package announced today – to meet Ukraine’s most urgent needs ahead of winter,” reads a statement from Downing Street.

Zelensky commented on his arrival in London via social media, saying: “I am already in the UK, together with my team. An audience with His Majesty King Charles III is scheduled for today. There will also be an important meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during which we will discuss a wide range of security issues.”

VOLODYMYR ZELENS'KYJ ZELENSKY PRESIDENTE DELL'UCRAINA, RE CARLO III D'INGHILTERRA VISITA DI ZELENSKY NEL REGNO UNITO

The Ukrainian leader – again via his X account – then addressed Italia. “I would like to thank Giorgia Meloni for her support and for taking a clear, unequivocal and principled stance. Thank you for recognising who the aggressor is and what it means to build a dignified and lasting peace. This is only possible through strength and joint efforts to ensure our security,” he wrote.

Shortly before, the Italian Prime Minister – in her reply to the Senate following her statement ahead of the European Council – had said: ‘As regards the Russian attacks, I see the escalation of provocations, just as everyone else does, but I regard them as’ such. “If someone provokes, it is to elicit a reaction; we must believe this because” that is why it is done. “I may be wrong,” but in my view “Putin is provoking Europe because he needs to divert attention from the course of the conflict and is looking for a new enemy, and that enemy could be Europe. We must remain on our guard, keep a close watch, and carry on with everything we’re doing, but I cannot give Putin this advantage; we must keep a cool head.”

Meanwhile, Russian air defence forces repelled an attack by 180 drones heading towards the Moscow region during the night. This was reported by TASS, citing information provided by the Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, on the Max channel. The attack brought Moscow’s main air transport hub to a standstill: Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo airports temporarily suspended flights. All four airports resumed operations at 6.44 am Moscow time. One person was killed during a drone attack in the Saratov region overnight, Governor Roman Busargin reported. A massive air attack was repelled in the Rostov region, Governor Yuri Slyusar reported.

The Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, said that a total of 493 drones were launched last night by Ukrainian forces towards the Moscow region. TASS reported this, emphasising that it was one of the largest attacks on the capital in the last two years. “The majority were neutralised by air defences at a great distance, and 180 were destroyed as they approached the city,” the mayor explained. Flights at Vnukovo International Airport were suspended for eight hours and passengers already on board were disembarked.

A total of 902 Ukrainian drones were shot down last night by air defences across 19 Russian regions, in occupied Crimea and over the Sea of Azov. This was announced by the Ministry of Defence, as reported by TASS, following on from earlier comments by the Mayor of Moscow.

The Kremlin has also accused Kyiv of not wanting an energy truce. Ukrainian forces attacked two oil refineries in Russia today, which shows that Kyiv ‘has no intention of implementing the energy truce’ announced by Donald Trump. This was stated by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak, as reported by news agencies in Moscow. ‘According to information from the Ministry of Energy and the companies,’ said Novak, ‘the Kyiv regime attacked two oil refineries today, in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. We can see that the Ukrainian side is not showing any signs of moving towards an energy truce.’

Meanwhile, Ukrainian military personnel have reported encountering restrictions, on the night of 14 October, relating to the military version of the US Starlink satellite communications system, known as Starshield. This version offers higher speeds and is crucial for drone operations. This is reported by Ukrainska Pravda, citing informed sources. The Ukrainian media outlet writes that, according to some sources, Elon Musk’s SpaceX may have taken these measures at the request of the Trump administration.

Ukrainian officials fear that US support in the form of military intelligence and access to the Starlink satellite communications system, created by Elon Musk, may be at risk. Ukraine uses Starlink for defence against air strikes and for long-range drones targeting military sites in Russia. Overnight, SpaceX imposed a speed limit on Ukrainian Starlink terminals installed on drones, Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelensky, reported on Telegram. Ukrainian drones rely on Starlink for in-flight control. The speed restrictions significantly complicate logistics, the work of units operating unmanned systems and medium-range strike operations, amongst other things, officials say. “Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is linked to the current political situation,” Beskrestnov claimed, without providing further details.

Ukrainian negotiators have invited US President Donald Trump’s envoys to meet in the coming days. This is according to RBC. “Ukrainian negotiators are now inviting Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to travel to Brussels or another city for a new round of talks,” the sources said. A meeting of the European Council is scheduled to take place in Brussels this week, which Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend.

‘It is painful when President Trump takes a different side to ours.’ Ukrainian President Zelensky made this statement in an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored, commenting on recent remarks by the US President, who announced a diesel deal with Russia and argued that Zelensky himself should be replaced as the country’s leader.

The Ukrainian president said he had no problem with Trump acting as a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow, but warned: ‘If you’re in the middle, you have to stay in the middle, not on the wrong side. I think Trump’s advisers are wrong. This isn’t the right side of the story.’ “If you’re in the middle, you have to stay in the middle, not on the wrong side. I think Trump’s advisers are wrong. This isn’t the right side of the story.”

When asked whether he felt betrayed by the US President, particularly in light of the recent agreement on Russian diesel, Zelensky replied: ‘Actually, yes, but the issue is a little more complex than my emotions or feelings.’

“It is a shame that we are losing a strong ally,” added the Ukrainian leader, reiterating that “we are not selling our country. For us, this is not a business matter; it is our lives and our country.”

Zelensky also sent a message to Elon Musk, convinced that the Starlink service had been restricted in order to undermine him in the face of Russian attacks: ‘It’s a huge mistake; people will die,’ he concluded.

FBI Director Kash Patel has landed in Russia. This has been reported by the American TV channel MSNow, citing two separate sources who speak of ‘a meeting’ in Russia for the head of the Bureau. News of Patel’s mission had been first reported last July by Politico, which quoted a US official revealing that the FBI director was preparing for a trip to Russia, with stops planned in the Russian capital and St Petersburg on 14 and 15 October.