Poland scrambles jets as Russian strikes hit western Ukraine
Warsaw says its airspace was not violated during overnight attacks that cut power to 370,000 people in Ukraine's Volyn region, as Bulgaria asks NATO to bolster its defences.
At a glance
- Poland scrambled fighter jets during overnight Russian strikes on western Ukraine and said its airspace was not violated.
- Strikes on Ukraine's Volyn region cut power to 370,000 people; attacks in Kharkiv killed three and injured five.
- Bulgaria asked NATO to deploy combat aircraft and antidrone systems after drone attacks on Black Sea shipping.
Poland scrambled fighter jets overnight as Russian attacks struck western Ukraine close to its border, the country's armed forces said on Friday, adding that no violation of Polish airspace was recorded.
It was the latest in a series of alerts along NATO's eastern flank, where governments are increasingly concerned about the risk of the war escalating as Russia appears to accelerate tests of regional defences.
Strikes across Ukraine
Numerous strikes hit Ukraine's Volyn region, which borders Poland, cutting electricity to 370,000 people, according to regional governor Roman Romaniuk, who reported two people injured.
In the eastern city of Kharkiv, a drone attack killed three people and injured five, the regional governor said. In central Ukraine, police said strikes on an apartment block in Uman injured a similar number.
Private power company DTEK said on Friday it had imposed emergency power cuts across Kyiv because of continuing strikes.
In Russia, officials said air defences blocked a Ukrainian drone attack on a heating plant in the Vladimir region. Russia's defence ministry said it shot down 644 Ukrainian drones overnight, 94 of them heading for Moscow. Al Jazeera's Yulia Shapovalova, reporting from Moscow, said the capital's four airports and St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport suspended operations.
The Russian-installed governor of the Russian-controlled Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine said Ukrainian attacks killed two people there.
Ukraine has had notable success attacking Russia's energy infrastructure, especially oil refineries, a strategy that has drawn criticism from United States President Donald Trump, who has blamed Ukraine for pushing up global oil prices.
Bulgaria seeks NATO support
Later on Friday, Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said Sofia had formally asked NATO to deploy combat aircraft and antidrone systems to strengthen its defences.
"We have sent letters and a request to the NATO Secretary General and the Supreme Allied Commander, urging them to strengthen our capabilities, which also means deploying additional forces on our territory. We are awaiting their decision," Stoyanov said. NATO did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said that while the evidence pointed to Russia, his government does not have proof. Stoyanov said he plans to meet his Romanian and Turkish counterparts soon to discuss coordinating a common approach in the Black Sea. Bulgaria, which has proposed a moratorium on attacks on civilian ships, expects to join a NATO antidrone initiative by the end of October. Romania's president has also said his country has asked for additional equipment.
Black Sea shipping attacks
Concern over Russian activity near NATO territory has grown since the summer, with Romania, Moldova, Poland and the Baltic states reporting numerous drone intrusions into their airspace and waters.
In recent weeks, drones have struck at least seven cargo ships off the Black Sea coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, leaving 25 people dead or missing. Two ships were hit off Romania's coast this week, and a commercial vessel sank off Bulgaria's coast on Tuesday, prompting Sofia to summon Russia's ambassador.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- Did Russian strikes violate Polish airspace?
- No. Poland's armed forces said they scrambled fighter jets during the overnight attacks but recorded no violation of the country's airspace.
- What damage did the strikes cause in western Ukraine?
- Strikes hit the Volyn region bordering Poland, cutting electricity to 370,000 people, according to the regional governor, who reported two people injured.
- What has Bulgaria asked NATO to do?
- Bulgaria's defence minister said Sofia sent letters to NATO's Secretary General and Supreme Allied Commander requesting combat aircraft and antidrone systems, plus additional forces on its territory.
