NATO aircraft were flown from Poland as Vladimir Putin unleashed his biggest drone attack yet on Ukraine – while Donald Trump has predicted the ‘downfall of Russia’
NATO has scrambled warplanes for the second night in a row after Vladimir Putin unleashed his largest-ever drone strike on Ukraine despite Donald Trump’s pleas.
After an intense day of aerial attacks yesterday which saw multiple civilians killed, including three children, Russian forces carried on targeting Kyiv last night for the third day in a row. Sirens sounded for around six hours, while drone attacks were also reported other regions of Ukraine. A total 355 kamikaze drones were fired at Ukraine overnight, the highest number in the war so far, while Putin’s forces also unleashed nine destructive Kh-101 missiles. NATO aircraft were flown from Poland as a defensive measure to ensure “security” in border areas.
A statement from the Polish armed forces command said: “Due to the attack by the Russian Federation, which is carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace.”
The commander “activated all available forces and resources at his disposal”, it added. “The on-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.”
Donald Trump turns on Putin
It comes after Donald Trump said Putin’s desire to take “all of Ukraine” would lead to his country’s downfall. He said: “Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.
“I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia.”
More casualties in Ukraine as war rumbles on
In Odesa, a man was killed after covering his girlfriend with his body. After receiving 70% burns on his body he managed to let her and his dog out to be rescued, say reports.
In the Kharkiv region, at least six houses were under fire with two women, aged 84 and 58 killed. A man aged 60 and women aged 76 and 68 were injured.
Russian troops shelled the village of Kindrativka in the Sumy region with artillery, killing a man and wounding another. In Khotyn, a 48-year-old resident died from artillery shelling.
Another civilian – a 52-year-old man – was injured. Russia staged a massive attack on a military airfield in Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi region.
“It burned like hell on earth…” said a witness. In the Zaporizhzhia region, a woman, 60, and man, 52 were wounded in Russian strikes on a private home.
Ukraine fights back
Ukraine continued to fight back with its own drone attacks, causing yet another day of major disruption at Russian airports. In Moscow, the airport was forced to shut yesterday due to swarming kamikaze drones.
Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky all suffered closures, as did the Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Cherepovets airports.
A major chemical plant – key to making Russian explosives – was meanwhile hit at Kineshma in Ivanovo region, with smoke seen pouring from the facility.
Russia’s main drone-making centre Yelabuga in Tatarstan was also hit by Ukrainian drones in overnight attacks, according to reports. And a train exploded in Russia’s Belgorod border region after hitting a mine.