President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the US and Europe for the political will to provide critical air defenses, stating that anti-ballistic missile capabilities are Ukraine's most urgent deficiency. He noted that the availability of these systems depends entirely on foreign partners. The planned strikes, which precede Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday on October 7, represent the first large-scale use of Russian strategic bombers since September 8.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Russia Readies Up to 100 Missiles for First Major Bomber Attack Since September
War14 days ago
Ukrainian civilians in Kyiv are seeking shelter in subway stations after the government warned of a coordinated aerial offensive occurring overnight. Russian drones and three Tu-160 strategic bombers are already in the air, with an additional 8 to 10 Tu-95MS bombers slated to depart Olenya Airbase starting around 20:00 UTC. Intelligence estimates the total payload will reach 80 to 100 missiles across various launch platforms, with the primary phase of the attack scheduled between 00:00 and 05:00 targeting energy infrastructure in the capital, Dnipro, and western regions.
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