Zelenskyy Warns Russia Could Launch ‘Massive Strike’ During US Midterms, Urges Washington to Stop Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Monday that Russia may be preparing a “massive attack” timed to coincide with Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections. He accused Moscow of trying to take advantage of the world’s focus on the historic vote to launch strikes against Ukraine.

The warning came as American voters prepared to determine which party will control Congress—a result that could shape Washington’s future policy toward Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nearly five-year war in Ukraine.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy called on the Trump administration to intensify pressure on Moscow. He said Russia could use the elections as cover to attack Ukraine’s already-damaged energy infrastructure and critical supply routes.

“We have intel that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on our country – primarily targeting energy and logistics,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

“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.”

Zelenskyy spoke hours after Russian forces reportedly hit a school in Komyshuvakha, a settlement in southeastern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, where humanitarian aid was being distributed.

At least 26 people, including police officers and first responders, were killed in the strike, while five others were injured and additional victims remained missing, according to the Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainska Pravda.

Zelenskyy also urged the United States and its allies to make clear to Putin that continued attacks would carry severe economic costs for Russia.

“We need signals from the world to Russia that will make them feel that terror is no good, that it will bring no gains, and that as long as this war continues, their oil will burn, and they will not be able to make money doing business with the world,” Zelenskyy said.

“We must not play games with Russia’s oil or gas revenues,” he added.

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“We must put pressure on Russia in such a way that it has no alternative but to end this war. America can do this.”

President Donald Trump has been pursuing negotiations to end the war with assistance from special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, both of whom have taken part in diplomatic efforts involving Moscow.

In a Sunday interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would pause attacks on Russian oil refineries for one month if Washington supplied Patriot missile interceptors during that same period, a proposal that could create an opening for diplomacy.

The State Department approved a potential sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles to Ukraine, valued at an estimated $2.1 billion, Reuters reported.

If completed, the proposed deal could substantially strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, though the schedule for delivering the missiles remains uncertain.

Ukraine also accused Moscow on Monday of using a U.S.-backed humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky, in the southern Kherson region, to reinforce and improve Russian military positions.

Nearly 800 people were evacuated during the six-day humanitarian pause, according to first lady Melania Trump, with the White House clarifying that she helped broker the arrangement.

Ukraine’s General Staff accused Russian forces of using the humanitarian pause to rotate troops, reinforce their defenses and improve battlefield logistics.

“Under the ceasefire introduced for the humanitarian operation in Oleshky, units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine ensured that the ceasefire was observed and acted exclusively within the framework of the agreements reached,” the General Staff said in a statement on X.

“The enemy, by contrast, used the humanitarian pause to improve its positions.”