NATO jets take to the skies as Putin's deadly hypersonic missile strikes continue
In a dramatic escalation of the conflict, NATO has been forced to scramble fighter jets in response to Russia's relentless assault on Ukraine. The strikes, which hit a major coal-fired power station and key rail and energy hub, have raised concerns about the extent of Putin's disregard for the war's end.
Hours before the start of peace talks in Geneva, Putin unleashed another devastating missile barrage on Ukraine. This comes as a 20-strong negotiating team, led by hardline Ukraine-hating historian and Kremlin official Vladimir Medinsky, embarked on a nine-hour flight from Moscow to Geneva, despite Western restrictions on Russian aircraft. Italy's airspace was opened to facilitate their journey.
The scale of the strikes indicates Putin's apparent lack of interest in ending the war, despite his delegation's presence in Switzerland. Russia deployed its formidable Tu-95MS strategic bombers, armed with cruise missiles, to attack targets. A Ukrainian F-16 successfully shot down a Russian Shahed drone, marking a significant development in the aerial defense of Ukraine.
According to reports, western F-16 pilots, comprising veterans from the US and the Netherlands, are actively defending the Ukrainian sky against Putin's drones and missiles for the first time. An F-16 squadron of experienced NATO pilots, operating under temporary contracts with the Ukrainian armed forces, is patrolling the skies of the Kyiv region. These pilots are utilizing Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting pods to shoot down incoming Russian drones.
The NATO deployment came after Putin's missiles struck the western part of Ukraine, specifically Ivano-Frankivsk, which is close to NATO territory. Explosions were heard at a major coal-fired power station in Burshtyn, and a key rail and energy hub in Stryi, near the Polish border, also sustained attacks. The cities of Kryvyi Rih, the birthplace of Volodymyr Zelensky, and the port city of Odesa, which faces daily bombardment, were among the targets.
Amidst the Russian strikes, Donald Trump once again put pressure on Zelensky, urging him to make concessions ahead of the Geneva talks, which will involve US officials. Trump stated, 'Ukraine better come to the table fast. That's all I'm telling you.'
In a separate development, a crucial supplier to Russia's military forces was targeted in a series of overnight attacks. A major oil refinery at Ilsky in the Krasnodar region exploded due to a strike by Ukrainian drones, while key airports in southern Russia, including Krasnodar and Gelendzhik, where Putin owns a vast palace, were closed.
The city of Izhevsk, home to several military-linked plants, including the renowned gun-maker Kalashnikov, was also hit by explosions. Local schools suspended classes as the drones came down.
Additionally, Volodymyr Zelensky's forces were accused of a long-distance strike on the Metafrax chemical plant in the Perm region, which manufactures components for explosives and weapons used in the war.
