Zelensky Warns Russia Preparing Massive Strike on Ukraine as World Focuses on US Midterms

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Monday, Nov. 2, that Ukrainian intelligence had uncovered Russian preparations for another massive attack targeting Ukraine’s energy and logistics infrastructure, potentially timed to exploit international attention on Tuesday’s US midterm elections. “We have intel that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on our country – primarily targeting energy and logistics,” Zelensky said in his evening address.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “The assumption is basically that tomorrow the world will be watching the American midterms, and what is happening here in Ukraine, along with our difficulties with air defense and Patriot missiles, will be overlooked,” he added. Zelensky warned that Russia could exploit Ukraine’s shortage of air defense interceptors to intensify attacks on critical infrastructure as winter approaches. He urged Washington and its allies to increase pressure on Moscow, particularly by restricting Russian oil and gas revenues, while pledging that Ukraine would respond to further strikes. “We must put pressure on Russia in such a way that it has no alternative but to end this war. America can do this, the world can do this,” he said. The warning came hours after Russian forces bombed a school used for humanitarian aid distribution and as a civilian shelter in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region, killing at least 26 people. As Kyiv Post previously reported, the Russian double-tap strike hit the building as residents gathered to collect humanitarian assistance, with subsequent bombs targeting people sheltering inside. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Confirms Ukraine Retaliated Against Russian Cyberattack by Hacking Moscow’s Emergency Alert App Zelensky tells PBS that Ukraine struck back after Russia hacked its air raid alert app, sending false nuclear and chemical attack warnings. Among the dead were two emergency rescue workers and four police officers. Another 27 people were reported missing as rescue operations continued. Zelensky condemned the attack, saying Moscow knew the building was being used for humanitarian purposes. “If Russia truly wanted de-escalation, then now, after Oleshky, there was a moment when humanitarian steps could have continued. We proposed this. But Russia continues the killings,” he said. Russian attacks resume after rare ceasefire The deadly bombing followed the expiration of a rare six-day ceasefire in neighboring Kherson region, brokered with the involvement of US First Lady Melania Trump. The truce, which ended Sunday, Nov. 1, allowed a humanitarian mission to the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, enabling evacuations to Ukrainian-controlled territory and Russian-occupied Crimea. Neither side reported violations during the pause, the longest local ceasefire since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. However, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Moscow had rejected Kyiv’s proposal to extend the agreement. Ukraine’s military also accused Russian forces of using the pause to reinforce their positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not deny the accusation, describing military preparations during ceasefires as normal practice and alleging that Ukrainian forces had previously done the same. Moscow called the humanitarian mission successful but said no further similar operations were currently planned. Zelensky said the latest Russian strikes had undermined hopes that the temporary ceasefire could lead to broader de-escalation. US announces new peace talks in Abu Dhabi Despite the renewed attacks, Washington announced that Ukrainian, Russian and US officials would meet in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10–11 for another round of negotiations aimed at ending the war. US special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the talks Monday, saying Washington would mediate working-level negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. “Discussions will focus on post-war security arrangements, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts, and next steps toward peace,” Witkoff said. US negotiators are also expected to meet European and NATO officials in Brussels this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, Europe’s future security framework and reconstruction. Ukraine and its European partners have repeatedly called for binding security guarantees to prevent another Russian invasion, while Moscow has opposed the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine. Ukraine retaliates after Russian cyberattack triggers false nuclear warnings Russia’s renewed attacks also followed a cyberattack on Ukraine’s widely used Air Alert app late Sunday, Nov. 1, which sent false radiation and chemical threat warnings to millions of Ukrainians. The app plays a vital role in protecting civilians by warning of incoming Russian missiles and drones. In an interview with PBS NewsHour, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was responsible for the attack, describing it as part of Moscow’s broader campaign to disrupt essential civilian services and spread panic across Ukraine. “They attacked our system. It was a cyberattack, one of the hundreds and thousands of those made by Russia before,” Zelensky said. He confirmed that Ukraine responded by hacking Russia’s emergency warning application, which subsequently issued false nuclear threat alerts. “Yeah, absolutely. We just responded on the attack,” Zelensky said. Russia intensifies strikes on Ukraine’s power grid Zelensky also warned that Russia had shifted its attacks beyond electricity generation facilities to target power distribution networks, making repairs increasingly difficult. Ukrainian energy workers have been operating around the clock to restore electricity following repeated strikes, with dozens of attacks continuing daily. “Right now, the speed of restoration is just as important as having missiles for air defense systems,” Zelensky said. He instructed the government to resume additional monthly payments for energy workers and repair crews throughout autumn and winter. The president also praised Ukrainian forces conducting long-range strikes against Russian military and energy targets, stressing that Moscow’s attacks would not go unanswered. “And we will certainly respond to the strike the Russians are preparing right now,” he said.