NATO scrambles warplanes after devastating Russian strike on Ukraine
The devastating strikes follow reports that a proposed meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is off after the Russian President refused to halt his war on Ukraine
Russia inflicted a night of hell on Ukraine with military strikes which killed at least six people, including two children.
The brutal attacks smashed the country’s heating and power system, inflicting misery on civilians as temperatures sink with winter approaching.
At least five people died in the capital city of Kyiv and its surrounding region, including a baby aged six months and a girl aged 12.
A 38-year-old woman was also killed in a Russian strike on the village of Pohreby, Kyiv region. The bodies were pulled out of a burning house while dozens were wounded around the country in the night of terror.
NATO was forced to scramble two F-16 warplanes from the 86th Air Base in Borcea in Romania as the strikes came close to the River Danube border.
This was followed by two German Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft scrambled from the 57th Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base “to carry out enhanced air policing missions”.
The Romanian defence ministry said it “strongly condemns the irresponsible actions of the Russian Federation and emphasises that they represent a new challenge to regional security and stability in the Black Sea region.
“Such incidents demonstrate the Russian Federation's lack of respect for the norms of international law and endanger not only the safety of Romanian citizens, but also the collective security of NATO.”
Emergency power cuts were imposed in multiple cities and regions after Kinzhal - or Dagger - hypersonic missile and drone attacks on thermal and hydro power plants.
The strikes came as Vladimir Putin exacted revenge for Ukraine’s use of British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to destroy the Bryansk Chemical Plant, which produces gunpowder, explosives, and rocket fuel components, hours earlier.
This attack also follows the postponement of a planned Budapest peace summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the Russian leader after it became clear to the White House that Putin had no intention of ending the war.
“I don’t want to have a wasted meeting, I don’t want to have a wasted time,” said Trump.
There were hits on at least two Kyiv power plants supplying hot water for heating to residents, as temperatures sank to 3C, and homes were also hit.
Key energy facilities were struck in the regions of Odesa, including the port of Izmail, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, where hydro power was disrupted with widespread reports of power cuts.
In Zaporizhzhia, at least 15 people were injured, including children.
“The main targets of today's strike are the hydroelectric power station and the thermal power plant,” said Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko.
“They are cutting off our electricity. Systematically. There is no protection for energy facilities….They have practically destroyed our entire gas system. We were not prepared for this either. Therefore, heating this winter will also be a huge question.”
War commentator Denis Kazansky said: “Russian monsters again bombed sleeping people and thermal power plants all night, which have no military function and only provide heating in residential buildings.
“In Kyiv alone, at least two peaceful civilians have died. The goals of these despicable *******s remain the same - to make the peaceful population suffer. The most vulnerable groups of people. So that pensioners freeze in their apartments.”
Ukraine followed up its Storm Shadow missile strike in Bryansk by hitting a major Russian explosives plant in Saransk. The plant was seen ablaze.
An oil depot was also hit in Makhachkala, on the Caspian Sea, by drones flying more than 700 miles to strike their targets.
This is the latest of dozens of strikes on Russian oil facilities, which have deepened Putin’s economic turmoil by raising petrol prices and inflicting fuel shortages across the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks were a sign of a lack of resolve by the West to provide his country with the long-range missiles it needs to strike back at Russia.
“As of now, 17 people are known to be injured. Six people, including two children, unfortunately died,” he said, adding "my condolences to the families and loved ones.
“Russian words about diplomacy mean nothing as long as Russian leaders do not feel critical problems. And this can only be ensured by sanctions, by long-range capabilities, and only coordinated diplomacy of all our partners.
“The time has come to adopt a strong sanctions package by the European Union. We also count on strong sanctions steps from the USA and the G7, everyone who desires peace.
“It is very important that the world does not remain silent right now and that there is a joint response to the vile strikes by the Russians. Everyone who now helps Ukraine with air defence systems and missiles.
“We are grateful for that. And everyone who helps Ukraine with long-range capabilities will bring the end of the war closer.”