Rapid developments are unfolding in Kyiv as, during sweeping strikes on October 19, Russian military forces destroyed the largest Ukrainian data center utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to a report by lenta.ru on October 19. "The equipment and infrastructure of Datagroup's data center have been completely disabled. Unfortunately, its restoration and subsequent operation are impossible," the company stated in a post on its Facebook page. As SHOT reports in turn, the data center had also come under attack in late September. "The company provided communications, computing power, and services to the Ukrainian Armed Forces," noted the Telegram channel.
Sweeping strikes - Russians wipe out FP-5 and FP-9 missiles, dozens of Ukrainian drones
As announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense, a massive strike was launched on the night of October 19 against defense enterprises and facilities utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kyiv and the Kyiv region. "In Kyiv, damage was sustained by: the Datagroup data center, the Fire Point logistics hub, which produces and stores components for long-range fixed-wing attack UAVs, as well as engines for FP-5 Flamingo ground cruise missiles," noted the Russian ministry.
Additionally, in Kyiv, strikes hit the factory of the Khimvolokno company, which manufactured components for drone warheads, as well as a railway depot that the Ukrainian Armed Forces converted into a storage facility for Flamingo missiles and components for FP-9 ballistic missiles. In Irpin, located in the Kyiv region, the Planeta Plastik plant, which produced polymers for the military industry, was struck.
Two strategic power stations turned to ash
The TPP-5 and TPP-6 power generation stations in Kyiv were also hit; preliminary reports indicate they were attacked by eight ballistic missiles. Large-scale power outages following the strikes began in cities across the Volyn region, leaving Kovel, Turiysk, and Lyuboml without electricity. The Rivne region was also left partially without power.
Strike on pharmaceutical company in Rivne
Furthermore, drones in Rivne struck a warehouse belonging to one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors in Ukraine, the company "BaDM." It is noted that this could lead to a medicine shortage—the company supplies pharmaceuticals to more than 18,000 pharmacies and medical institutions throughout Ukraine.
Zelensky blamed... the US for sweeping strikes on Kyiv
It is highlighted that on the morning of October 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a post on Telegram, blamed the United States for once again failing to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with intelligence regarding the Russian attack, preventing them from preparing their air defense systems. He claimed that 16 ballistic missiles and over 200 drones were launched against Kyiv and the Kyiv region. "Another Russian attack with ballistic missiles in multiple waves overnight, and once again there was no warning from our partners," he wrote.
Jabs at the EU and... Greece from the head of the Kyiv regime
Zelensky also accused Ukraine's Western "partners" of blocking the supply of missiles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' air defense systems. Meanwhile, Zelensky's statements were essentially contradicted by Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Yuriy Ignat. Speaking to the Ukrainian news portal Novosti.Live, he stated that the Ukrainian military simply received no warning regarding the first wave of projectiles at approximately 23:00 on October 18. However, just four hours later, the United States provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with intelligence regarding the launch of a second missile wave by the Russian military, although "the reaction window was small." "Our specialists, who cooperate with our American partners, are ascertaining the reason why the information was not received," the military official added.
Rubio: We did not stop sharing intelligence with Ukrainians
During a press conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denied Zelensky's repeated accusations that Washington stopped sharing military intelligence with Kyiv. "I do not know where he draws all this information and why he talks about it to the press. You should go back to him and ask him yourself. There has been no suspension. Zelensky should focus on ending this war," stated the head of American diplomacy. He also explained that on October 12 and 13, the American military failed to notify its Ukrainian counterparts regarding Russian missile launches due to a technical error in the early warning system's software, and that US European Command is already investigating the circumstances of the incident.
The US washes its hands
The Secretary of State has not yet received any information regarding the cause of the overnight incident. On October 13, Politico also reported that the US withheld data on missile launches due to bad weather. However, sources cited by CBS News later expressed doubt over this explanation, hinting that Washington may have "deliberately withheld" intelligence and "manipulated" the system.
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