By Tony O’Reilly-
Russian president Vladimir Putin joked after launching one of Russia’s fiercest attack against Ukraine. He was responding to allegations that he was conducting hybrid warfare against Denmark and other countries of the West right after Russia had fired 35 missiles and 60 drones at facilities of the gas and oil company in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions.
The attack which cased massive harvoc has been described as an act of Russian malice aimed solely at disrupting the heating season and depriving Ukrainians of warmth in winter”.
It comes on the back of claims by Defence intelligence that they have recorded Russian warships sailing through Danish straits with sonar and jamming equipment, according to Mr Ahrenkiel. He said it was “highly probable” that they, on at least one occasion, had jammed signals and caused extensive GPS interference in Denmark.
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Denmark in recent days has also reported drone sightings over military sites, and Copenhagen and Oslo airports – in Denmark and Norway respectively – were forced to close temporarily due to drone sightings last month. Multiple officials have accused the Kremlin of plotting to wear down the Ukrainian power grid ahead of winter.
The Russian Defence Ministry boasted that its forces had carried out massive overnight strikes on Ukraine’s gas and energy infrastructure, saying it had also attacked industrial facilities linked to the military. Russia launched a total of 381 drones and 35 missiles at Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s air force. Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil refineries recently.
“We have seen several incidents in the Danish straits, where Danish air force helicopters and naval vessels have been targeted by tracking radars and physically pointed at with weapons from Russian warships,” Danish Defence Intelligence Service director Thomas Ahrenkiel told a press conference.
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He said Russian warships had sailed on collision courses with Danish vessels during their passage through the straits, adding that a Russian drone attack caused a fire at a farm in northeast Ukraine overnight, emergency services said on Friday open image in gallery
Denmark in recent days has also reported drone sightings over military sites, and Copenhagen and Oslo airports – in Denmark and Norway respectively – were forced to close temporarily due to drone sightings last month.
Only 48 hours ago, Russian forces initiated a huge, sophisticated bombardment against Ukraine’s capital and other regions . That extensive campaign utilised a variety of cruise missiles and Iranian-designed ‘Shahed’ attack drones, overwhelming defences across multiple sectors.
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Fire at a residential neighbourhood hit by the Russian strike in the outskirts of Kyiv. Pic: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that day reported that Russia launched approximately 500 drones and more than 40 missiles in an overnight attack on Ukraine.
“Moscow wants to continue fighting and killing and deserves only the harshest pressure from the world,” Zelenskyy stated via Telegram.
The strategic objective of that massive attack on Kyiv appeared to be targeting critical energy infrastructure nationwide. The immediate and serious threat posed by the inbound weaponry caused international alarm, compelling a direct military response from the neighbouring NATO state of Poland.
People take shelter in a metro station during a Russian drone attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv. Pic: Reuters
The sheer scale of the assault, the largest seen in months, prompted a swift and decisive reaction from Polish military command. Polish authorities immediately announced the activation of F-16 fighter jets, alongside allied aircraft, to patrol the country’s eastern airspace.
This defensive manoeuvre was standard procedure to ensure the safety of Polish territory. Russia’s massive attack on Kyiv has once again forcefully highlighted the dangerous volatility along NATO’s eastern flank.
Polish air traffic control also implemented a temporary closure of its national airspace, effectively delaying numerous commercial flights. This dramatic precaution was deemed necessary to ensure the safety of all civilian air traffic because Russian missiles were approaching or violating Polish territorial boundaries.
Early reports indicated significant damage to key energy facilities and residential areas, suggesting a deliberate attempt to cripple the nation’s power grid before the winter season arrives. The proximity and magnitude of this latest incident provoked an almost immediate escalation of defensive measures by the neighbouring alliance member.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy issued a strong statement condemning the aggression and calling for more advanced air defence systems to counter the continuing aerial assault. The international community, carefully watching the fallout of this latest barrage, will now focus heavily on the consequences of the airspace disruption and the necessary air defence protocols required to secure the skies over Ukraine.
But this attack appears to be a lot fiercer than earlier in the week, which in itself was devastating.
Putin appears to be ignoring Trump and the rest of the world’s cry for peace, whilst Israel and Palestine seem to be at least negotiating some exchange deals in terms of talks to free hostages.
