Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing a new large-scale attack on Ukraine, urging citizens to remain vigilant and take air-raid warnings seriously as tensions in the war continue to escalate. 

In a statement on Friday, Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence services had gathered information indicating that Moscow was planning another major strike against Ukrainian cities and communities. He said the intelligence had been shared with international partners and stressed the need for stronger air-defense support to help protect civilians. 

The warning comes amid heightened concerns over a renewed Russian offensive following a series of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine in recent days. Russia has also publicly signaled plans for what it described as “systematic strikes” on targets in the Ukrainian capital, claiming the attacks would be retaliation for Ukrainian drone operations in Russian-controlled territory. 

According to Reuters, Zelensky said Ukraine’s Air Force and other defense agencies were operating at full readiness to respond to any escalation. He also called on Ukraine’s allies to accelerate the delivery of air-defense systems and increase pressure on Moscow through additional sanctions. 

The latest alert follows earlier warnings from Ukrainian and Western officials about the possibility of major Russian missile strikes, including concerns over the potential use of Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile system. Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly urged residents to seek shelter whenever air-raid sirens sound. 

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has entered its fifth year, with both sides continuing to exchange long-range drone and missile attacks while fighting persists along the front lines. Recent Russian strikes on Kyiv have caused civilian casualties and widespread damage, further intensifying fears of a broader escalation in the conflict.