Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian attacks on Kyiv amounted to a show of contempt by Russia toward the United States, according to Le Monde.fr. The French outlet reported his remarks on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, as part of its live coverage of the war.
The strikes were not confined to the capital. A Russian drone attack killed six people in Lutsk, BFM reported, while Midi Libre put the toll at no fewer than six dead and dozens wounded across bombardments in both Kyiv and Lutsk. France 24 also reported six deaths from the Russian strikes.
The attacks unfolded against a backdrop of unease in Kyiv over the reliability of American backing. France 24 reported that the Ukrainian capital is worried about a loss of US support. Orange Actualités raised a further question, noting an absence of air-raid alerts before the Russian strikes.
Midi Libre additionally reported that the Starlink network was degraded during the attacks, without giving further detail on the extent of the disruption.
The strikes and Zelensky's response come as Ukraine weighs the strength of its Western backing. What to watch next: whether Washington responds to Zelensky's characterization of the attacks, and how the alert failures flagged in French coverage are explained.
