Jets were scrambled following what the head of the Ternopil regional administration, Vyacheslav Nehoda, said was an attack on a “critical industrial facility” overnight
NATO was forced to scramble its warplanes over Poland today following a huge Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine ’s gas and energy facilities.
Vladimir Putin sent up his Tu-95MS strategic bombers from an Arctic airfield to launch devastating strikes impacting civilian Ukrainians. This came hours after Donald Trump had said the Kremlin dictator wanted to stop the war – and only the US president knew the secret reason why Putin has “no choice”.
But Russia instead intensified the conflict as Putin launched savage strikes on cities and regions across Ukraine including dozens of ship-launched Kalibr and strategic bomber-launched Kh-101 missiles, one unofficial source said, as Putin appeared to intensify his war. A gas pipeline exploded after a missile strike in Ternopil, with massive flames seen towering into the night sky.
Vyacheslav Nehoda, the head of Ternopil regional administration, warned there “may be restrictions” to the local gas supply. He said: “As a result of a night enemy attack in the Ternopil region, a critical industrial facility was hit by a rocket. There may be restrictions on gas supply.”
Missiles also struck gas storage facilities in Poltava and Sumy regions, where numerous explosions were recorded, along with Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia. In Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second city, traditionally mainly Russian speaking – “critical infrastructure” was hit in an Iskander-M missile strike along with nine multi-storey residential buildings and 36 private sector buildings, and heating supplies disrupted.
Seven people were wounded, said mayor Ihor Terekhov. In Odesa, port warehouses – which stored ammunition – were struck along with power substations. The attack forced a response from Poland, with Warsaw’s armed forces operation command headquarters informing members of the public local and “allied aviation” commenced operations in Polish airspace.
The command said in a statement: “In connection with the active activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation carrying out strikes against facilities located in western Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun to operate in our airspace.” The NATO warplanes were placed on alert to shoot down any Russian missiles entering Polish airspace.
The statement continued: “The operational commander of the regional armed forces mobilised all the forces and means at his disposal. Duty pairs of fighter jets were put into the air, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems reached the highest level of readiness.
“The measures taken are aimed at ensuring security in the territories bordering the threatened areas. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation and its subordinate forces and means remain fully prepared for immediate response.” The latest Russian blitzkrieg came as the Trump administration has blocked Ukraine from access to US intelligence including the ability to use power Western long range missiles to target Putin’s military machine.
Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko said: “Russia continues its energy terror. Again the energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine is under massive missile and drone shelling. Where possible, rescuers and energy workers are working to eliminate the consequences.
“All necessary measures are being taken to stabilise energy and gas supplies. Russia is trying to hurt ordinary Ukrainians by shelling energy and gas production facilities, without abandoning its goal of leaving us without light and heat, and causing the greatest harm to ordinary citizens. While the danger continues – please stay in shelters.”
