Russia launched one of its most intense aerial assaults on Ukraine since the start of the war, forcing NATO into action.
The attack killed at least four people and injured more than 70.
According to the BBC, the overnight barrage lasted more than 12 hours and involved nearly 600 drones and dozens of missiles fired at seven regions of Ukraine.
Furthermore, Kyiv bore the brunt of the attack, where a 12-year-old girl was among the dead. Emergency services also reported fatalities at the city’s Institute of Cardiology, where a nurse and a patient were killed.
Ukrainian outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported that Russia deployed a total of 643 aerial assets, with hits and falling debris recorded in 41 locations.
Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 611 targets, including 566 drones, 35 Kh-101 missiles, and eight Kalibr cruise missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes as deliberate terror.
“The massive Russian attack on Ukraine lasted for more than 12 hours. Brutal strikes, deliberate and targeted terror against ordinary cities,” Zelensky said.
Also Read: Europe and NATO Stunned as Putin Bombs the Heart of Ukraine’s Capital, Kyiv
NATO on High Alert
The scale and intensity of the assault triggered a swift response from NATO.
In Poland, jets were scrambled and radar systems were placed on the highest alert, with temporary airspace restrictions in effect over the southeastern cities of Lublin and Rzeszów, Politico reported.
Additionally, F-35 jets patrolled the skies until the assault subsided.
However, no direct violations of Polish airspace were reported, but the precaution underscored fears of escalation.
The Newsweek report noted that NATO’s response reflects growing anxiety among allies after repeated drone incursions in Europe.
Estonia, Romania, and Poland have all accused Russia of violating their airspace, while unexplained drone activity over Denmark and Norway disrupted air traffic the past week.
Also Read: Zelensky Panics as Putin Deploys New Russian Drones Undetectable in European Skies
Why It Matters
Russia’s military flights have increasingly alarmed NATO allies, with member states accusing Moscow of testing Western defenses.
Both Poland and Estonia have recently invoked Article 4 of NATO’s charter, which allows for urgent security consultations.
On the other hand, Estonia took the step after accusing Russian MiG-31 fighter jets of briefly crossing into its airspace, an incident viewed as a direct challenge to the West’s resolve.
Under international rules, aircraft entering an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which begins roughly 12 miles beyond a country’s coastline, must identify themselves.
On Wednesday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said it intercepted four Russian aircraft that entered the Alaska ADIZ but remained in international airspace.
NORAD reported scrambling an E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft, four F-16 fighters, and four KC-135 refueling tankers to shadow the Russian planes.
The formation included two Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets.
Zelensky Issues Warning
Only hours before the latest strikes, Zelensky had warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is testing European defenses and could open new fronts beyond Ukraine.
“Putin will not wait to finish his war in Ukraine. He will open up some other direction. Nobody knows where,” Zelensky said.
On the other hand, Moscow maintains it is not targeting NATO members.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the UN General Assembly that Russia has no intention of attacking EU or NATO states, but warned of a “decisive response” to any act of aggression against it.
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