NATO jets take off in Poland as Russia's relentless bombardment of Ukraine continues
WARSAW -- In a swift response to Russia's relentless drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, NATO has activated its air defense systems and scrambled fighter jets in Poland. The Armed Forces Operational Command in Warsaw announced these measures via social media, emphasizing their preventive nature to secure the airspace and protect vulnerable areas.
The alert, which lasted nearly four hours, involved Spanish, Czech, German, and Dutch air defense systems, as well as radar reconnaissance. The command assured that no Polish airspace was violated during this period.
Ukraine's air force reported a staggering 653 drones and 51 missiles, including 17 ballistic missiles, launched by Russia overnight. Out of these, 585 drones and 30 missiles were successfully intercepted or suppressed. The impact of these attacks was felt across 29 locations, according to the air force.
This latest assault, comprising 704 air attack weapons, marks Russia's largest overnight bombardment since October 29, according to ABC News data. The previous largest attack occurred on September 6, involving 823 air vehicles. This attack is only the fourth since the full-scale invasion where Russia employed over 700 air attack vehicles.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service confirmed that Kyiv and Chernivtsi were among the targeted areas. In Kyiv, three people were injured, and the service shared updates on Telegram. In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported damage to an energy facility, causing power and heating disruptions for 9,500 customers and water shortages for 34,000.
Energy infrastructure in Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions also sustained damage, according to local authorities. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Russia's disregard for peace efforts, emphasizing the need for continued support to strengthen Ukraine and pressure Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the targeting of energy facilities, stating that Russia aims to inflict suffering on millions of Ukrainians. He urged for sustained support, including sanctions and air defenses, to counter Russia's aggressive actions.
