--- title: "Zelenskyy: US withheld ballistic strike intelligence from Ukraine for three days, but sharing has resumed" description: "Zelenskyy stated that the US withheld intelligence on Russian ballistic strikes for three days before sharing resumed. Trump had previously publicly denied stopping data transfers." date: 2026-10-18T14:41:48.087Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-us-withheld-ballistic-strike-intelligence tags: [ukraine, usa, zelensky, trump, intelligence-sharing, ballistic-missiles, russia] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy: US withheld ballistic strike intelligence from Ukraine for three days, but sharing has resumed ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wearing a dark t-shirt making a statement](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/zelensky-ssha-tri-dnya-ne-perechali-dannye-o-balisticheskikh-udarah/zelensky-ssha-tri-dnya-ne-perechali-dannye-o-balisticheskikh-udarah-1.webp) ## Key Points - Zelenskyy reported a three-day break in US intelligence sharing regarding Russian ballistic attacks - According to the Ukrainian president, only the US possesses 'unique data' on impending ballistic strikes - Intelligence sharing has resumed as of the interview, per Zelenskyy's statement - Kyiv was previously warned about a potential sharing suspension if strikes on Russian refineries continued - Trump publicly denied that he had stopped intelligence transfers to Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv did not receive intelligence data from the United States regarding planned Russian ballistic attacks for three consecutive days. The head of state announced this in an interview cited by RBK-Ukraine referencing NBC News. According to Zelenskyy, the American side possesses 'unique data' on impending ballistic strikes, and this information is critically important for Ukraine's air defense system and the protection of civil infrastructure. ### Three-day gap in data transfer 'Only the US has this unique data, and they inform us when Russia uses ballistic missiles. We did not receive data on ballistic attacks for three days,' Zelenskyy emphasized. The president noted that Ukraine receives vital intelligence from numerous allies, including European countries, but in the ballistics segment specifically, there is currently no alternative to American data, he said. A three-day break in transmitting such information, according to Zelenskyy's logic, created a serious operational risk for Ukrainian positions and the population in frontline regions. ### Sharing resumed Zelenskyy reported that the process of exchanging intelligence with the US, including regarding ballistic threats, has now 'finally resumed.' 'We are very grateful for this... Now it works,' the president stated. He did not specify the exact reason for the three-day break, limiting himself to stating the fact and expressing gratitude for the restoration of the communication channel. ### Context: Threat of sharing suspension and refinery strikes Zelenskyy's statement came against the backdrop of a fact previously confirmed by him: American authorities warned Kyiv about a possible suspension of intelligence sharing if Ukraine does not halt strikes on oil refineries within Russia. Thus, the three-day gap in transmitting ballistics data may be connected to this ultimatum, although neither Zelenskyy nor representatives of the Pentagon or the White House publicly linked the two events together in a single statement. ### Washington's position and attitude toward Trump Notably, Donald Trump himself previously publicly claimed that he is 'helping' Ukraine and did not stop the exchange of intelligence data. Thus, Zelenskyy's version of a three-day break caused by a decision from the American side contradicts the public stance of the US president. Amid these contradictions, Zelenskyy expressed hope that Trump 'will remain on Ukraine's side anyway, or at least take a neutral position,' which indirectly indicates the ongoing uncertainty in relations between Kyiv and Washington on intelligence cooperation. ## Accounts differ ### Did the US suspend intelligence sharing on ballistic attacks with Ukraine - **Volodymyr Zelenskyy (President of Ukraine):** The US did not transmit data on ballistic attacks to Ukraine for three days, after which sharing resumed. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-tri-dobi-nadavali-ukrayini-dani-balistichni-1792334203.html)) - **Donald Trump (US President):** The US did not stop intelligence sharing with Ukraine; Trump claims he is 'helping' Ukraine. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-tri-dobi-nadavali-ukrayini-dani-balistichni-1792334203.html)) *Where they agree:* Intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine has currently resumed — Zelenskyy confirms this ('now it works'). ## Fact-Check & Sources - [США трое суток не давали Украине данные о баллистических атаках РФ, - Зеленский](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/ssha-tri-dobi-nadavali-ukrayini-dani-balistichni-1792334203.html) - Primary source. Zelenskyy's quote regarding the three-day break and resumption of data sharing. Reference to NBC News as the primary source of the interview. ## FAQ ### How many days did Ukraine not receive data on ballistic attacks? According to Zelenskyy's statement, for three consecutive days. ### Has intelligence sharing resumed? Zelenskyy stated that at the time of his speech, the intelligence-sharing process with the US, including data on ballistic attacks, had resumed. ### Is the break related to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries? Zelenskyy previously confirmed that the US warned of a potential data-sharing suspension if Ukraine did not stop strikes on refineries. Neither side publicly linked the three-day break directly to this ultimatum. ### What does Trump say about this? Donald Trump publicly claimed that he is 'helping' Ukraine and did not stop intelligence sharing, which contradicts Zelenskyy's version of a three-day break.