Major alert as Putin fires Russian cruise missile over NATO territory for 39 seconds sparking growing concern over escalation of the Ukraine war
A Russian cruise missile flew over NATO territory for 39 seconds overnight, causing widespread alarm over fears of an escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Allied warplanes rushed to ‘guarantee the security’ of Polish airspace after the raid at 4.23am local time.
The Polish Armed Forces confirmed the incident in a statement on
‘The object entered Polish space near the city of Oserdow (Lublin Voivodeship) and remained there for 39 seconds. It was detected by military radar systems throughout the flight.’
The military said the missile traveled about 2 miles into Polish territory and Polish and allied aircraft were activated, but the airspace over Poland was now clear.
Meanwhile, Ukraine subjected Russia-annexed Sevastopol in Crimea to one of the heaviest bombardments of the 25-month war (photo above: Sevastopol under rocket attack)
An explosion from a rocket is seen in the skies over Kiev during a Russian missile attack, amid the Russian attack on Ukraine, on March 24
The Polish Armed Forces said in a statement: ‘The object entered Polish space near the city of Oserdow (Lublin Voivodeship) and remained there for 39 seconds. It was observed by military radar systems throughout the flight.
There were huge explosions in the city, believed to be from Storm Shadow missiles, the kind supplied to Ukraine by Britain
Police officers inspect part of a Russian Kh-55 cruise missile, intercepted during a missile attack, during the Russian attack on Ukraine, in a park in Kiev, on March 24
The potentially dangerous breach by Vladimir Putin’s forces occurred during a Russian attack on the Lviv region of Ukraine.
The head of Poland’s National Security Agency, Jacek Siewiera, said he spoke with the head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. “The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was immediately informed,” he said.
The Polish Armed Forces claim that the Russian missile penetrated the country’s airspace to a depth of one mile.
Russia deployed at least 29 Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles, as well as 28 Shahed attack drones, on Ukraine in the nighttime attacks.
Of these, 18 missiles and 25 drones were shot down, Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk said.
Russia is believed to have hit infrastructure in the Stryi region of the Lviv region after cruise missiles were launched by fourteen Tu-95MS strategic bombers.
Meanwhile, Ukraine subjected Russia-annexed Sevastopol in Crimea to one of the heaviest bombardments of the 25-month war.
There were huge explosions in the city, believed to be from Storm Shadow missiles, the kind supplied by Britain to Ukraine.
There were reports that the communications center of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was hit. The attacks killed a 65-year-old man and injured four people, reports said.
However, it is not known whether there were more casualties in the targeted communications center.
Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev reported a ‘massive’ attack by Ukraine.
Russian air defenses claimed to have shot down more than ten missiles and numerous drones.
Police officers inspect part of a Russian Kh-55 cruise missile, which was intercepted during a missile attack earlier today
There were reports that the communications center of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was hit (photo: black smoke over Sevastopol after the Ukrainian missile attack)
A rocket explosion is seen in the skies over Kiev during a Russian missile attack on March 24
A police officer inspects part of a Russian Kh-55 cruise missile, intercepted during a missile attack, in a park in Kiev on March 24
According to the OSINT technical project, the Ukrainians had hit a fleet facility, and a spectacular video showed the moment of the hit.
“At least three Ukrainian Storm Shadow cruise missiles… hit a key communications hub of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet,” they reported.
Telegram channel Crimean Wind said: “The missiles hit the main special communications hub of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on Mykola Muzika Street.”
The Ukrainian newspaper Pravda reported: “Three Storm Shadow cruise missiles hit a building in the center of Sevastopol in one go.”
The commander of the Ukrainian Air Force thanked “the pilots and sailors for their successful combat work.”
Later, more explosions were heard in the city and other locations in Crimea. An oil depot in the village of Gvardeisky was hit.