Russia's Large-Scale Attacks on Ukraine Prompt Swift Military Response by Polish and NATO Fighters
In a significant development, NATO allies have stepped up their response to Russia's escalating aggression in Ukraine. This marks the first time the alliance has fired weapons since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
The escalation comes amid stalled peace efforts, with the situation in Ukraine growing increasingly volatile. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia, with every strike not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy to terrorize civilians and destroy infrastructure. Regional authorities reported eight deaths and at least 32 injuries due to Russian strikes over the last 24 hours in Ukraine.
In response, NATO jets shot down several Russian drones that crossed into Polish territory during an attack on Ukraine. Besides Poland, the Netherlands and Germany have deployed military aircraft last week as part of a coordinated NATO security effort to defend against Russian air attacks near Poland. Dutch F-35 fighter jets and German Eurofighters stationed in Poland for enhanced air policing were among those scrambled in response.
Estonia has requested NATO Article 4 consultations to address security concerns with the alliance's main decision-making body. This move follows an incident on Friday where three Russian MiG-31 aircraft violated Estonian airspace without permission, switching off their transponders, and carrying no flight plans, putting other aircraft at risk. Italy, Sweden, and Finland responded to the Russian aircraft intrusion in Estonia as part of NATO's Eastern Sentry operation.
NATO allies have strengthened defenses on the eastern flank in response to the airspace violations. The Polish military stated that duty fighter pairs have been scrambled and ground-based air defence systems have reached a state of maximum readiness. NATO condemned Moscow's actions as "absolutely dangerous."
Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 579 attack drones, various types of dummy drones, eight ballistic missiles, and 33 cruise missiles overnight into Saturday. The escalation is a concerning development, with efforts by former US President Donald Trump to arrange a joint summit with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin having so far failed.
In a positive note, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York next week. Zelenskyy will assess whether such guarantees are close to being finalised during the meeting, as Ukraine's allies work on long-term security guarantees for Kyiv. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely and calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
