NATO sends fighter jets over Europe as Putin launches nuke-capable bombers
NATO was compelled to mobilise warplanes overnight on its eastern frontier in response to a savage Russian missile and drone assault on Ukraine.
The attacks resulted in a path of death and devastation in the Kyiv region, marking one of the most severe onslaughts of the year. This followed Donald Trump’s dismissal of a bold proposition from Vladimir Putin to seize enriched uranium from Iran – capable of conversion to weapons-grade within weeks, and sufficient to produce over 10 nuclear bombs.
The Kremlin tyrant suggested his action could contribute to ending the conflict in Iran – a Russian ally, but an American official informed Axios regarding the Moscow proposal: “It hasn’t been accepted. The US position is we need to see the uranium secured.”
(Image: Ukrainian Emergency Services; e2w news)
Putin deployed his Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers – elements of his nuclear attack strike force – to strike Ukraine overnight with conventional missiles, targeting civilian energy facilities.
Reports indicated that 68 missiles – including Kalibrs, Kh-101s and Iskanders – and 430 drones were launched.
Approximately 250 of the drones were Iranian-designed Shaheds, similar to those currently being fired by Tehran in the Middle East.
All but six missiles and 28 drones were intercepted or disrupted.
As a precautionary measure, NATO dispatched fighters and an early warning surveillance aircraft over Ukraine’s neighbour Poland, following the earlier mobilisation of warplanes over Romania.
(Image: Jozsef Soos via Getty Images)
“Due to the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft have begun operating in our airspace,” announced a statement from Warsaw’s operational command.
“In accordance with the procedures in force, the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces has activated the necessary forces and assets at his disposal.
“Quick-reaction fighter pairs and an airborne early-warning aircraft have been scrambled, whilst ground-based air-defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness.”
In the Kyiv region, five individuals lost their lives and 15 were injured in the strikes. Russian sources claimed to have targeted power plants supplying military facilities. Warehouses and production facilities were struck in Brovary, a city near Kyiv.
An intense missile and strike bombardment also hit the Dnipropetrovsk region, and four people including children aged 11 and 16 were injured in Zaporizhzhia. In the Kharkiv region, a suburban train was struck.
Ukrainian strikes set the Afipsky oil refinery ablaze, and hit the port of Kavkaz, both located in Russia’s Krasnodar region. Major explosions occurred in occupied Crimea where Russian Nebo-U radar installations were damaged.
