Latest news with #ArmedForcesOperationalCommand
25-05-2025
- Politics
Russia hits Ukraine with massive drone, missile barrage amid prisoner exchange
LONDON -- Russian drones and missiles again bombarded cities across Ukraine on Saturday night into Sunday morning despite an ongoing prisoner exchange which is set to be the largest of the 3-year-old war. Ukraine's air force said in a post to Telegram that Russia launched a total of 367 "air attack vehicles" -- among them nine Iskander ballistic missiles, 56 cruise missiles, four guided air missiles and 298 attack drones -- at targets across the country. The air force said 45 cruise missiles and 266 drones were shot down or otherwise neutralized during the attack. "Most regions of Ukraine were affected by the enemy attack," the air force wrote, with strikes reported in 22 locations and downed cruise missiles or strike drones reported in 15 locations. "Unfortunately, tonight, due to the barbaric attack by the Russians, there are dead and injured, among them children," the air force said. The Armed Forces Operational Command in Poland -- a NATO nation that borders Ukraine to the west -- said in a Sunday morning post to X that its fighter jets were scrambled during the Russian attack. "Intensive activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation has been observed, associated with strikes carried out on objects located, among others, in the western territory of Ukraine," the statement said. The latest attack marks the fourth consecutive night during which Russia launched more than 100 missiles and drones into Ukraine, per Ukrainian air force figures. Though long-range attacks have occurred almost nightly in recent months, Russia's recent bombardments have been notable for their scale. Ukraine is also continuing its own drone strikes into Russia, with the Defense Ministry in Moscow reporting the downing of 110 Ukrainian drones overnight into Sunday. The barrages came despite the beginning of a multi-day prisoner exchange process on Friday. Some 1,000 troops from both sides are expected to be swapped, with the process set to continue into Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The prisoner exchange will, once completed, be the largest since Moscow's invasion began in February 2022. Russia and Ukraine have swapped prisoners of war throughout the conflict, despite their failure to agree a lasting ceasefire. U.S.-brokered peace talks since President Donald Trump's return to office in January have likewise failed to reach an accord, with both Kyiv and Moscow accusing each other of undermining negotiations. Ukraine is demanding a full 30-day ceasefire, during which time peace talks can take place. Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out ceding territory to Moscow in any peace deal. Trump's threats of new sanctions on Russia -- as yet unrealized despite Ukrainian and European appeals for more American pressure on President Vladimir Putin -- do not appear to have pushed the Kremlin away from its maximalist war goals, which essentially equate to Ukrainian capitulation. Those demands include the annexation of four partially-occupied Ukrainian regions -- plus the retention of Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014 -- Kyiv's demilitarization, a permanent block on Ukrainian accession to NATO and the "denazification" of the country -- a nebulous demand based on Russia's false representation of the Ukrainian government as a far-right dictatorship. Ukrainian leaders have cited Russia's continued massed strikes as evidence that Moscow is not genuine in its appeals for peace. "The Russian army killed children and civilians with missiles and drones this night," Andriy Yermak -- the head of Zelenskyy's office -- wrote on Telegram early Sunday. "Instead of a ceasefire, there are murders." "Without pressure on Moscow, we get the death of our people," he added. "The current pressure is insufficient, Russia is slowing down all the processes related to the end of the war in order to kill. We have long been ready to cease fire, but Russia is doing everything to continue destroying people, because Putin likes it." "Without pressure, nothing will change and Russia and its allies will only build up forces for such murders in Western countries," Yermak continued. "Moscow will fight as long as it has the ability to produce weapons."
Irish Daily Star
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
NATO jets scrambled as Russia launches brutal new attacks despite Putin 'peace claims'
NATO has ramped up its air defense, with fighter jets on high alert following Russia's aggressive strikes in Western Ukraine, coming just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin was accused of "targeting civilians. " The military alliance's Armed Forces Operational Command announced that it had increased patrols over Polish airspace adjacent to the Ukrainian border. The command stated: "The steps taken are aimed at ensuring safety in areas bordering the threatened areas." Additionally, Poland's radar and reconnaissance capabilities were heightened, with officials declaring their forces ready to act "immediately" if the situation escalates, with the Polish President, Andrzej Duda, regularly warning of the threat posed by Russia and pleading with Donald Trump to station nuclear weapons in the country as a deterrent. After the cessation of Russia's long-range airstrikes on Ukraine, military flights over Polish skies have ended, the statement clarified. It continued: "Poland's air defense and radar systems, which had been activated in response, are now back to routine operations. Authorities confirmed there were no breaches of Polish airspace. Meanwhile, Putin has been slammed for claiming to want peace but launching further attacks. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump branded 'disgusting' as he honors Pope Francis in 'baffling' way Read More Related Articles 'Hideous' Trump hangs new self-portrait in White House next to his greatest political rival "The Polish Armed Forces continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine closely and remain on standby to safeguard national airspace." Polish jets were scrambled on Thursday (Image: (Image: Getty)) In a devastating overnight missile and drone assault on Kyiv, nine people lost their lives, and 70 were injured, including six children, as reported by Ukrainian authorities on Thursday, reports the Express . The Kyiv City Military Administration revealed that the attack involved at least 45 drones, with the expectation of updated figures from Ukraine's Air Force forthcoming. The attack occurred amidst stalled peace negotiations, with President Donald Trump criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for his refusal to surrender Crimea to Russia as part of a proposed peace plan. Rescue efforts were still underway early Thursday morning, with emergency personnel retrieving bodies from the rubble of collapsed buildings and providing care to those injured. For all the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for our FREE newsletters here . On April 15, UK fighter jets intercepted two Russian aircraft flying near NATO airspace, demonstrating the UK's commitment to NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission. Two RAF Typhoons took off from Malbork Air Base in Poland to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M intelligence-gathering aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Shortly after, a second scramble was initiated to intercept an unidentified aircraft departing from Kaliningrad airspace. These incidents marked the RAF's first interceptions under Operation CHESSMAN, supporting NATO's Eastern Flank alongside Sweden. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
NATO Fighter Jets Scrambled After Russian Long-Range Attacks
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NATO's Poland said it scrambled fighter jets and that its ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems "reached the highest state of readiness" after Russia's long-range strikes in western Ukraine. Poland's Armed Forces Operational Command posted on X that allied air forces had also joined it in the operation in Polish airspace on Thursday, around its border with Ukraine. "The steps taken are aimed at ensuring safety in areas bordering the threatened areas," the post said. "The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and its subordinate forces and resources remain in full readiness for immediate response." This is a developing story and more information will be added soon.
