Tag: nato
UK must halt defence cuts and lead the way for Europe in NATO, says shadow defence secretary
Kyiv comes under fire from more Russian missiles just hours after warning from NATO chief
Zelensky insists missile that hit Poland WAS Russian – despite NATO & US saying it was a Ukrainian air-defence misfire
UKRAINE’S President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had “no doubt” the missile that hit Poland yesterday WAS Russian – despite counterclaims by NATO and the US.
President Zelensky said he was certain “it was not our missile” that struck and killed two people on a farm four miles from the Ukrainian border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has ‘no doubt’ yesterday missile strike in Poland came from Russia[/caption]
Kyiv has called on Poland to give its investigators access to the site of the explosion[/caption]
Two people died after a rocket exploded on a farm in Przewodow, Poland[/caption]
Bogdan Ciupek, 60, was driving a tractor full of grains at the time of the incident, locals say[/caption]
Warehouse supervisor Bogusław Wos, 62, was the second victim of yesterday’s missile strike[/caption]
He also called on Ukrainian investigators to be given access to the site of the explosion and to be involved in the analysis of debris.
He said: “Based on the credibility of the reports of the military, I believe that it was a Russian missile.”
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly earlier said Britain would not make a judgement until after a full investigation.
Urging caution, he said: “Our response will always be led by the facts.
“The only reason why missiles are flying through European skies and exploding in European villages is because of Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine.”
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Moscow has strongly denied its missiles were involved in yesterday’s horror blitz.
Nato and the US have rebuffed those claims and alleged the rocket was “likely” a Ukrainian air defence missile.
US officials suggested the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian one amid a huge salvo against power infrastructure Tuesday.
It comes as Polish troops were seen installing an 8ft razor wire fence along its border with Russia.
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Soldiers laid miles of the 10ft-wide barbed fencing near Szyliny village close to the Russian enclave of Kalinigrad amid fears Moscow is about to provoke a migrant crisis to wreak havoc in the EU.
NATO allies are bolstering their air defences after yesterday’s horror missile strike that killed two people in Poland.
Slovakia is beefing up its air defence systems while Lithuania called on NATO to increase deterrents along its eastern flank with Russia.
Brit PM Rishi Sunak said Russia was to blame for an emergency Nato meeting following the death of two farmers just miles from the Ukrainian border.
It was the first time a missile has strayed across the border from Ukraine since the invasion in February.
G7 and Nato leaders held a series of emergency meetings over the explosion as Russia angrily reacted to initially being blamed for the strike.
But Mr Sunak, attending his first major summit since being appointed PM, said Putin must still shoulder the responsibility for the missile mishap.
“Ukraine is having to use missiles to defend its homeland, is having to defend its homeland against an illegal and barbaric set of strikes by Russia,” he said while speaking in Bali.
“Over 80 yesterday, at the same time that we were sitting together gathered as the G20, calling for peace.”
The world nervously awaited last night after US intelligence initially reported the weapon had been fired by the Russians – an act that could have been seen as an attack on the West.
Russia and the West remain at loggerheads over the war in Ukraine – with nations such as the US and UK offering weapons and support to Kyiv.
Moscow has always been furious about this – and so the spectre of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine spilling into a wider war, or even World War 3, has cast a long shadow over Europe.
And in a ratcheting up of tensions, one of Putin’s close & senior allies Dmitry Medvedev warned the world is heading towards World War 3.
The deputy chair of Russia’s top security council seemed to blame the strike on the West.
“The incident with the Ukrainian-alleged ‘missile strike’ on a Polish farm proves just one thing: waging a hybrid war against Russia, the West moves closer to the world war,” wrote Medvedev.
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The confusion likely stemmed from the fact Ukraine still maintains stocks of former Soviet and Russian-made weapons – including the S-300 air-defense missile system.
Poland is continuing to investigate the attack after the rocket struck a farm at 3.40pm local time on Tuesday in the village of Przewodów, four miles from the border with Ukraine.
Kyiv suggests it had proof the strike was conducted from Russia[/caption]
Nato calls emergency summit after ‘Russian-made’ missile hits Poland killing 2 in ‘serious escalation’ of Putin’s war
NATO has called an emergency summit after a “Russian-made” missile hit Poland, killing two, as Putin’s war in Ukraine spilled over the border in a “serious escalation”.
G7 leaders also met for crisis talks early on Wednesday to decide on a “collective response” to the deadly strike on a Nato ally’s territory.
The site of the rocket explosion in Przewodow[/caption]
The rocket struck a farm at 3.40pm local time on Tuesday in the village of Przewodów, four miles from the Ukraine border.
Allies condemned the blasts and said they were “ready to defend every inch of territory” as Polish ministers met for an emergency crisis meeting.
The Pentagon said it could not corroborate reports but a senior US intelligence official said Russian missiles had crossed into Nato member Poland, according to AP and Reuters.
Late last night Poland’s president said the explosion that killed two citizens was caused by a “Russian-made” missile, although there was no firm proof of who fired it.
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Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki put army units on “raised combat readiness” while police, border guards and special services are on “high alert” following the unprecedented blast.
It was the first time a missile has strayed over the border from Ukraine since the invasion in February.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called it a “very significant escalation” that demands action.
He said in a TV address last night: “Today, something that we have been warning for a long time has happened.
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“Terror is not limited to our state borders. Russian missiles hit Poland …on Nato territory.
“This is a Russian missile attack on collective security.
“It’s only a matter of time before Russian terror goes further. We must act”
However, the Kremlin angrily denied it was to blame, claiming the reports were a “provocation” by the West.
It said: “Statements by the Polish media and officials about the alleged fall of ‘Russian’ missiles in the area of the settlement of Przewoduv is a deliberate provocation in order to escalate the situation.
“No strikes were made against targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border by Russian means of destruction.”
It came as Russia fired nearly 100 missiles on Ukraine in its biggest attack on energy and water plants so far, plunging ten million into darkness.
The explosion hit a farm area used to dry grain and two people died, officials said.
Images showed an overturned tractor-trailer beside a giant crater in the ground, and what appeared to be missile debris nearby.
Investigators were last night inspecting the wreckage to identify the types of missile, range and likely firing point.
Some experts suggest that the debris from the missile at the site appears to be repurposed air defence missile, rather than a cruise missile, according to Visegrad24.
Other analysts suggest the rockets were intended for Lviv, a Ukrainian city about 60 miles south of Przewodów.
Polish Armed Forces were put on “high alert” and scrambled two fighter jets from the airport in Tomaszów Lubelski.
Polish PM Morawiecki and President Andrzej Duda summoned a crisis meeting of ministers “as a matter of urgency”.
“I appeal to all Poles to remain calm around this tragedy. Let’s be prudent. Let’s not let ourselves be manipulated. We must be guided by restraint and prudence,” PM Morawiecki said.
Meanwhile, his presidential counterpart said there was no “conclusive evidence” of who fired the “Russian-made” missile.
President Duda said: “The North Atlantic Alliance is on alert. We have strengthened the readiness of the Polish armed forces, including the air defence. Our planes will be supported by allied planes. We act calmly and prudently.”
Poland also said it was increasing the “combat readiness” of some units and has summoned the Russian ambassador to explain.
Mr Duda later said he had spoken to Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg and that Warsaw was “likely” to trigger Nato’s Article 4 during an emergency meeting with the military alliance on Wednesday.
That is invoked when a member feels threatened by another country and triggers formal talks on how to counter the threat.
However, it does not automatically trigger a military response from allies.
The strike has prompted a fierce response from members of the Polish establishment.
Senate Adviser Marcin Zaborowski vowed there would be a military response from Nato if the strike was proved to be intentional.
‘Defend every inch’
Meanwhile, US officials told Politico that today’s explosions were caused by a missile strike or an errant missile and not remnants of a missile Ukrainian armed forces shot down.
Hungary is also understood to be convening an emergency defence meeting, according to the BBC.
UK officials said they urgently investigated the strike with allies.
The strike caused alarm among Nato members.
Rishi Sunak, who is currently at the G20 summit in Bali, tweeted: “I “have just spoken with the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary.
“We are urgently looking into reports of a missile strike in Poland and will support our allies as they establish what has happened.
“We are also coordinating with our international partners, including Nato.”
Later he sat with Joe Biden and other leaders to discuss the developments in Europe.
‘PROTECT ALL’ PACT
POLAND has been a Nato member since 1999.
The treaty was drawn up to tackle the Soviet Union in 1949. It has now grown to a 30-member-strong bulwark against Russian aggression.
Article Five of the treaty states all members “will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally attacked” including a military response.
It has been triggered once — after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York in 2001, which led to the invasion of Afghanistan.
A crisis came in 2012 after Russia shot down a Turkish military jet.
A Nato official said: “We are looking into these reports and closely coordinating with our ally Poland.”
The Pentagon said it was “looking into” reports of the attack.
Department of Defense press secretary Patrick Ryder added: “We’ve been crystal clear that we will defend every inch of Nato territory.
“We’re very confident in any force protection measures that we take, whether it be in Poland or elsewhere.”
Estonia and Latvia condemned Russia.
Latvian deputy PM Artis Pabriks tweeted: “My condolences to our Polish brothers in arms.
“Criminal Russian regime fired missiles which target not only Ukrainian civilians but also landed on Nato territory in Poland. Latvia fully stands with Polish friends and condemns this crime.”
Estonian officials said the latest news from Poland was “most concerning”.
“We are consulting closely with Poland and other Allies. Estonia is ready to defend every inch of Nato territory. We’re in full solidarity with our close ally Poland,” a statement said.
It comes as one person was confirmed killed and half of Kyiv was plunged into darkness after being struck by 100 Russian missiles today.
Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau, Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak at an emergency G7 meeting in Bali today[/caption]
Polish police outside Przewodow village – the site of today’s missile blasts[/caption]
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki arriving for a closed-door Government meeting in Warsaw, Poland[/caption]
Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks after an emergency defence meeting[/caption]
Missiles rained down across Ukraine in retaliation for the capture of Kherson and attempts to condemn Russia’s barbaric invasion at this year’s G20 in Bali, Indonesia.
Putin’s forces struck 15 power stations and other essential civilians infrastructure, forcing shutdowns across the country and plunging parts of the capital into darkness, according to President Zelensky.
Ukraine claims it shot down 70 of the 100 missiles launched on Tuesday.
Harrowing footage shows a residential building up in flames after being struck by one of Putin’s rockets.
According to officials, at least two residential buildings were hit during the November 14 strike.
“There is an attack on the capital. According to preliminary information, two residential buildings were hit in the Pechersk district,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“Several missiles were shot down over Kyiv by air defence systems. Medics and rescuers are at the scene of the strikes.”
Moments later, he confirmed more missiles his a multi-storey building.
Ukrainian presidential advisor Andriy Yermak claimed the attack was in response to President Zelensky addressing the G20 calling on members to help stop Russia’s actions.
“Does anyone seriously think that the Kremlin really wants peace? It wants obedience. But at the end of the day, terrorists always lose,” Yermak said.
Around a third of Ukraine’s power grid has been knocked out by weeks of targeted bombardment, causing rolling blackouts and a lack of heating.
The shameless bombardment left half of Kyiv and the city of Zhytomyr without power.
Strikes were recorded in Lviv and Rivne in the west, Kharkiv in the northeast, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia in the centre and Odesa in the south.
It comes as president Zelensky told world leaders at this year’s G20 summit they needed to step up actions to halt Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.
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He said they could “save thousands of lives” by urging Moscow to withdraw from occupied territories.
“I am convinced now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped.”
Smoke rising in the distance seen from Nowosiolki, Poland, near the border with Ukraine[/caption]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged G20 leaders to push Russia to end the war[/caption]