NATO fighter jets raced to respond to a series of Russian bombardments targeting Ukrainian power stations.
Russian forces launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure earlier today with a mass barrage of 99 drones and missiles. The attacks hit power plants in western Ukraine that left many without power.
Power stations in Stryi, in the Lviv region, and Burshtyn, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, both in the direction of Poland, an EU and NATO member. While Ukraine is not a NATO member, the defence pact states if any country part of the alliance is attacked it will consider it an attack on all, prompting a military response.
Air raid warnings across the country continued through the night as the strike targeted 10 separate regions, Ukraine's Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, said.
"We warn you that Polish and Allied aircraft have been activated in the Polish airspace,” said Operational Command of Poland’s Armed Forces. “Intensive long-range aviation activity of the Russian Federation is being observed.”
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A photo of a Polish F-16 fighter jet. Poland is a NATO member. (AFP/Getty Images)Ukraine defence officials confirmed the attack and said Russia targeted the country with 60 Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and 39 missiles of different types. Despite this there was still significant damage.
"Overnight Russia launched another massive air attack on Ukrainian fuel and energy facilities," Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said in a post shared today on X, formerly Twitter. "We are grateful to our warriors for a job well done. Ukraine needs more air defence systems from our partners, including Patriot air defence systems, to protect critical infrastructure and civilians from Russian terror."
Ukraine's state-owned grid operator, Ukrenergo, said that the attack deliberately targeted energy infrastructure, including thermal and hydroelectric power plants across central and western regions.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private electricity operator, also said Friday that three of its thermal power plants had been damaged in the attack. Elsewhere, five people were wounded during the attack in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, said local governor Serhii Lysak. The injured included a 5-year-old girl.
The bombardment in the west of Ukraine caused the Polish Armed Forces to scramble its own aircraft, the country's operational command said on social media.
Generating facilities were hit as well at the Kryvvi Rih Thermal Power Plant in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's home region of the same name. Gas storage facilities were also struck the in Lviv region.
Martin Harris, the British ambassador to Ukraine said on X this morning: "Russia is stepping up its vile attacks on Ukraine's cities and citizens this Easter. My #GoodFriday began in the bunker. #StandwithUkraine."
US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A. Brink branded the attack "barbaric" and called on the US to offer military assistance. US military aid has been stalled in Congress due to a funding fight instigated by frustrated Republicans.
"All night, Russia has ruthlessly launched missiles and drones against Ukraine's energy infrastructure - now all of Ukraine is under air alert," she posted today on X. "Russia's barbaric effort to take the power out for millions of men, women and children continues unchecked. Our assistance is needed now."
Russia launched airstrikes across western Ukraine. (Ukraine Police/east2west news)While the attack took place on Easter Friday in the UK, many in Ukraine celebrate it on May 5 as the country follows the Julian calendar for its celebrations like many other Orthodox Christian nations.
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Russia's bombardments come as diplomatic tensions between Poland and Moscow continue after Sergey Andreyev, the Kremlin's ambassador to the NATO member state, refused a summons to the foreign ministry. He had been told to attend concerning a Russian missile that flew across Polish territory for 39 seconds before hitting a target in Ukraine.
Andreyev later left for Moscow and claimed Poland offered no proof the missile flew over its territory, so he did not meet with the foreign ministry. Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: "When we decide to respond, it will not be at the level of ambassador."
Sikorski said Andreyev had not been expelled. "From what I hear, he has left our territory of his own accord."
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