Nato members are on high alert after Russia unleashed a wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, prompting a military response from the alliance. Poland, a key Nato member on its eastern border, scrambled fighter jets during the attacks as a preventative measure.
Details of the Attack
People took cover in Kyiv and the surrounding areas after missiles and suicide drones bombarded the Ukrainian capital, hitting several residential buildings. At least 11 people were killed in Kyiv and the neighbouring region, while 46 were hurt. A missile plant is thought to have been hit, leading to secondary blasts. Putin’s army used 68 missiles and 351 drones in last night’s assault, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Poland's Response
Poland’s armed forces operational command commented on the overnight response: ‘Due to the activity of the long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, which strikes the territory of Ukraine, military aviation has begun operations in Polish airspace. Fighters started the operation, and ground air defence systems and radio-location recognition have reached alert.’
Evacuations and Warnings
An urgent evacuation was ordered in Vyshneve in Kyiv region amid a threat of more detonations and toxic smoke at the Zhulyansky Machine-Building Plant Vizar, which caused ‘coughing and headaches.’ Hours earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky said intelligence indicated a huge strike ordered by Russian president Vladimir Putin was imminent. ‘Russia wants to bring more evil and kill people. Please stay safe and heed any air raid alerts,’ he warned Ukrainians.
Casualties and Damage
Despite the warnings, dozens of people were caught out, with reports that an entire family, a mum, dad and son, were killed in one neighbourhood. Kyiv Roshen Confectionery Factory, owned by former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, and the city’s hydroelectric power station were among the targets. Several Ukrainian regions are said to be without power after the Russian airstrikes, including Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv.
Geopolitical Context
Russia’s show of force and aggression comes a day before Nato leaders are due to meet in Ankara for a high-level summit on Tuesday. The military alliance has faced headaches caused by the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US-Iran war. Tensions have been growing between Nato and the US president, Donald Trump, who regularly threatens to pull America out of the alliance. Meanwhile, the Russian army is feeling the brunt of the invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, making it increasingly harder for Putin to hide the impact of the war at home. Up to 450,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the war started, while Ukraine has seen between 125,000 and 150,000 fatalities, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It said: ‘Russian fatalities in Ukraine are more than four times greater than all US fatalities in all wars combined since world war two.’
