Poland reacted to recent Russian attacks on Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday by scrambling fighters. The Ukrainian Air Force issued several warnings to Ukrainian citizens, urging them to go to shelters as Russian forces fired jet-powered drones towards all points in Ukraine.
Impact of the Attacks on Neighbors
The exact number of drones fired is unclear, but some may have crossed outside Ukraine's borders. A NATO fighter shot down a drone in Lithuania shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Lithuanian officials stated that the drone likely entered from Belarus and was shot down near the village of Pratkunai in southern Lithuania, close to Kaunas.
New Challenges in the Ukraine War
Drone attacks in the airspace of Russia's neighbors have raised concerns about the expansion of Russia's war in Ukraine to NATO borders. This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, announced that Kyiv is ready to support the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine that includes the protection of energy sites, but only if Washington ensures that Moscow is genuinely ready to cooperate.
A drone also attacked a gas station in Kyiv, with Mayor Vitali Klitschko announcing the news via the Telegram messenger. An attack was also carried out on a storage facility in another part of the city. A Reuters witness heard an explosion in Kyiv.
This attack follows U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement on Monday that Ukraine and Russia have agreed not to target each other's energy facilities. In recent months, Russia has targeted around 300 gas stations, mainly located in frontline areas of Ukraine.
Zelensky said in his nightly address, "If this can be the first step towards reducing tensions, Ukraine is ready to support the de-escalation."
A drone attack also damaged an industrial facility in the Samara region of Russia. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, is under pressure from Russian commanders who are calling for broader mobilization to restore their capabilities to seize and maintain the initiative.
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Source: independent.co.uk
