Zelensky says Russia is preparing a new massive strike on Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on 6 October that Ukraine had received updated intelligence on Russia's preparation for a new massive strike, and that Ukraine is preparing a counter-response. He spoke after a selector meeting with government officials, military representatives, and key services, at which participants also discussed Russian attacks on Ukrainian hospitals in Kramatorsk and Kryvyi Rih.
Key points
- Zelensky announced the warning on 6 October, following a selector meeting with officials, the military, and key services.
- Ukraine received updated intelligence on Russia's preparation for a new massive strike, and is preparing a response.
- Deadlines for a significant portion of counter-strike tasks have been set; priority tasks are already being implemented.
- The Minister of Defense and the Commander of the Air Force briefed on the distribution of air-defense assets and cover lines for key objects.
- Ukraine is supplying F-16 ammunition, interceptors, and anti-missile systems; anti-ballistic capabilities are the hardest to source and depend on partners.
- Government officials and regional authorities prepared additional logistics solutions in response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian logistics.
- The meeting also discussed Russian attacks on hospitals in Kramatorsk and Kryvyi Rih within a single day.
Why it matters
It is a direct presidential warning of an imminent large-scale Russian attack, raising the alert level for Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. The statement frames Ukraine's response — distribution of air-defense assets, ammunition for F-16s, interceptors, anti-missile and anti-ballistic systems — and underscores that anti-ballistic capabilities depend on foreign partners. Tying the threat to recent Russian strikes on logistics and on hospitals in Kramatorsk and Kryvyi Rih within a single day shows a pattern the government is actively trying to counter.
What happened
On 6 October, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had received updated intelligence on Russia's preparation for a new massive strike and that Ukraine is preparing a counter-response. The announcement followed a selector meeting with government officials, military representatives, and key services. Participants set deadlines for a significant portion of the tasks, with priority items already being implemented. The Minister of Defense and the Commander of the Air Force briefed on the distribution of air-defense assets and the organization of cover lines for designated key objects. Ukraine is supplying the necessary ammunition for F-16s, interceptors, and anti-missile systems; Zelensky said anti-ballistic defense is the most difficult area, with those supplies dependent on partners with whom Ukraine is working daily. Government officials and regional authorities have also prepared additional logistics solutions in response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian logistics. The meeting additionally addressed Russian attacks on hospitals in Kramatorsk and Kryvyi Rih within a single day.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian-language coverage leads with Zelensky's statement and the government's response, emphasizing that deadlines for counter-strike tasks have been set, that priority tasks are already being implemented, and that additional logistics solutions have been prepared with regional authorities. Ukrainian sources detail the military measures being taken — distribution of air-defense assets, organization of cover lines for key objects, and provision of F-16 ammunition, interceptors, and anti-missile systems — and stress that anti-ballistic capabilities are the most difficult area and depend on partners. Some outlets also place the threat in the context of recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian logistics and on hospitals in Kramatorsk and Kryvyi Rih, and some link the possible timing of a 7 October strike to Vladimir Putin's birthday.
How international sources describe it
The single non-Ukrainian source — an English-language agency report from Azerbaijan — leads with the intelligence update and Zelensky's warning, and condenses the response measures into a single line about the air-defense and logistics briefing.
Where reporting differs
One supplied article dates the selector meeting and Zelensky's statement to 6 October 2026, while all other articles and facts date it to 6 October without specifying a year. The substance of the reporting otherwise aligns.
Background
Zelensky had previously indicated that Russia would broaden attacks while relying on jet-powered strike drones, and that effective interception means for such drones were expected to be available by the end of October. Russian attacks on hospitals in Kramatorsk and Kryvyi Rih within a single day were discussed at the same selector meeting. One source identifies the Minister of Defense as Yevhen Khmara and the Commander of the Air Force as Anatoliy Kryvonozhko.