NATO fighter jets took off and ground-based air defense systems were placed on the highest alert level in Poland and Romania, during a massive and deadly nighttime Russian attack against targets across Ukraine, as announced by military officials in Warsaw and Bucharest.
A drone was reported to have entered approximately 8 kilometers into Romanian airspace before disappearing from radar, according to Romania’s Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine: The escalation of attacks
At least 25 people including three children were killed in Russian attacks on the city of Ternopil, in western Ukraine, where two nine-story apartment buildings were hit by Russian munitions, announced the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior. Another 73 people, including 15 children, were injured.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia launched 476 drones and 48 missiles in one night, with the Lviv, Ternopil and Kharkiv regions being the main targets. It was the largest attack in November to date and the biggest since October 30.
Ukrainians shot down or intercepted 442 drones and 41 missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force. Strikes from 34 drones and seven missiles were reported at 14 locations, while debris fell in six regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said attacks were recorded across the country, in regions including Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Dnipro. At least 19 long-range drones struck the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where local officials reported nearly 50 people were injured.
“Every provocative attack against normal life shows that the pressure on Russia is not enough,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. “Russia must be held accountable and we must focus on what strengthens us and allows us to shoot down Russian missiles, neutralize Russian drones and stop attacks.”
NATO’s response
In Romania, the Ministry of Defense announced that two German Eurofighters and two Romanian F-16s took off to monitor airspace at the border with Ukraine, following Russian attacks near the border.
The drone that entered Romanian airspace appeared intermittently on radar as it moved along the Moldova-Romania border before disappearing completely. A ministry spokesperson told ABC News that its origin cannot be confirmed.
In Poland, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces announced that fighters took off and air defense reached maximum readiness level. The alert lasted approximately four hours, without violation of Polish airspace. The response involved Polish, Dutch, Norwegian and Spanish fighters, as well as German Patriot systems.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces shot down 80 Ukrainian drones.
Diplomatic moves from the US followed, with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and General Randy George visiting Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian leadership regarding the possibilities of resuming negotiations.
Meanwhile, British authorities announced that a Russian spy ship was detected at the limits of British waters. Defense Minister John Healey emphasized that British forces are closely monitoring the Yantar and are ready to respond to any provocation.
