NATO has sent warplanes over Poland after Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy facilities. Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers targeted key sites in Ukraine and a missile strike blew up a gas pipeline in Ternopil on Thursday night.
The Kremlin launched a huge missile and drone strike on Ukraine’s gas and energy infrastrastructure just hours after US President Donald Trump insisted that Vladimir Putin had “no choice” but to end the war, without revealing why the Russian leader’s hands were tied.
NATO warplanes were put on alert over Poland to shoot down missiles entering the Polish airspace amid the large-scale attack, which caused a gas pipeline in the western city of Ternopil to explode, with images showing flames leaping high into the night sky.
Warsaw’s armed forces operation command headquarters said a combination of local and “allied” aircrafts were on guard against Russian strikes in the country’s airspace. Last night’s onslaught saw the operational commander “mobilise all the forces and means at his disposal” to ensure security on the Ukrainian border, a statement read.
At least two civilians were injured in the overnight attack (Image: Getty)
The Russian attack came just hours after President Trump said Putin had “no choice” but to stop the war in Ukraine, without explaining the reason behind his statement.
The missile strikes targeted energy and gas infrastructure across Ukraine, according to energy minister Herman Halushchenko, and injured eight people after damaging a residential building in Kharkiv.
An initial round of missiles were launched at 4am this morning local time, targeting the country’s western regions, with a second strike launched around two hours later.
Ternopil regional governor Viacheslav Nehoda said a local gas facility had been struck by a missile, warning that supplies in the area could be interrupted as a result.
The Kremlin launched a combination of ship-based Kalibr and bomber Kh-101 missiles at Ukraine, according to reports, and struck crucial infrastructure facilities in the Poltava, Sumy, Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia regions.
Port warehouses containing ammunition in Odesa were also targeted in the attack, which Mr Galushchenko described as a campaign of “energy terror”.
“Again the energy and gas infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine is under massive missile and drone shelling,” he said.
“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.”
