NATO has scrambled warplanes in response to a Russian bombardment of Ukraine close to its border with Poland.
The strikes, which have hit vital energy facilities, were led by Vladimir Putin’s Tu-22 and Tu-95 strategic bombers. The onslaught was seen as instant revenge for Tuesday’s Ukrainian aerial strikes on Russia, the heaviest of the almost three year war.
Putin was rattled by Ukraine’s use of British Storm Shadow and American ATACMS missiles, which hit key defence facilities including a chemical plant in Bryansk region. NATO jets went in full alert in Poland with warplanes drafted to the county.
The country’s operational command headquarters said in a statement: “Duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness. The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.”
Russian Tu-22 and Tu-95 strategic bombers were used on the strike near the Polish border
(Image: Getty Images)
Andriy Sadovyi, mayor of Lviv, said: “During the morning attack, enemy cruise missiles were recorded on the territory of the region. “The enemy attacked the energy infrastructure of our region and [elsewhere in] Ukraine.”
Some seven TU-22M3 and six TU-95MS strategic bombers were in the air with capital Kyiv among the targets. Russia had earlier vowed to respond to Tuesday’s attacks when a reported 14 Western missiles and more than 200 drones hit chemical plants, energy facilities and other defence-related targets in Russia in Ukraine’s most ambitious aerial strike of the entire war.
A statement from the Russian defence ministry reads: “The actions by the Kyiv regime supported by Western handlers will trigger retaliation.”
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Russia claimed to have shot down eight £2 million Storm Shadow missiles but this could not be verified. Today Russia attacked with Kh-22 missiles, triggering emergency power outages in multiple Ukrainian regions, already hit by crippling electricity shortages due to earlier Putin strikes.
Sea-launched Kalibr missiles were deployed and gas facilities were also hit. Herman Halushchenko, Kyiv’s Energy Minister, warned: “The enemy does not stop terrorising Ukrainians. Due to the mass attack, the operator of the transmission system applies preventive measures of restrictions. Stay tuned for official announcements. While the danger lasts – stay in shelters!”
NATO forces went on full alert in Poland with warplanes scrambled, said the country’s operational command headquarters
(Image: Mirror)
Svitlana Onishchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk military administration, said: “The morning in Ukraine began with rocket fire. The enemy used various types of weapons. In the Carpathian region, the target was critical infrastructure facilities. Air Defence Forces were operating in the region. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
“The relevant services are working at the scene. The situation is under control. We thank our defenders and everyone involved in eliminating the consequences of the enemy attack.”
In Kharkiv, a man, 52, was reportedly killed. A 56-year-old nurse from a local outpatient clinic was killed as a result of shelling of the Kherson suburb of Antonivka, said the head of the region’s military administration [Oleksandr] Prokudin. Ukraine hit Russia overnight, setting fire to a key Lukoil refinery in Volgograd. Footage showed a huge explosion at the strategic plant.
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