Nato was forced to scramble its warplanes today in response to Russia’s bombardment close to Ukraine’s border with Poland.
Vladimir Putin’s Tu-22 and Tu-95 strategic bombers wreaked havoc on vital energy facilities across Ukraine in the coldest weeks of winter.
Alliance forces went on full alert in Poland, said the country’s operational command headquarters.
‘Duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness,’ said a statement.
‘The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.’
Air raid sirens wailed in the early hours of this morning, warning Ukrainians to rush to underground shelters amid what the energy minister called a ‘massive’ missile attack.
Ukrainian air defence downed at least 30 out of over 40 Russian missiles, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
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