Russia launched new attacks with more than 500 drones and missiles this Wednesday (19) against Ukraine, leaving more than two dozen people dead. At the same time, part of a NATO detachment had to be called in to intercept a Russian drone that violated Romanian airspace.
The Ministry of Defense of the European Union and military alliance member country reported that two national and two German fighter jets took off shortly after midnight on Wednesday after the Russian aircraft was detected about eight kilometers inside Romanian territory.
According to the government, the drone was detected by radar for approximately 12 minutes and flew towards Moldova before returning to northern Romania, at which point two Romanian Air Force F-16 fighters were called in to intercept it. Authorities did not report any drone impacts on Romanian soil.
The new deadly Russian attack in Ukraine has hit energy, transport and civil infrastructure sectors, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the Air Force, Ukrainian defenses intercepted 442 drones and 41 of the missiles launched by Russia in the bombing.
During the attacks, Poland, another country neighboring Ukraine and a NATO member that has faced constant threats from Moscow, also deployed fighter jets as a precaution.
Zelensky stated that this new Russian attack demonstrates that “pressure on Russia is not enough”, and called for more sanctions on the Kremlin and additional help for Ukraine to protect itself from enemy bombings.
The new Russian offensive comes one day after the United States authorized the sale of new Patriot air defense systems worth US$105 million to Ukraine, according to the US State Department.
Also this Wednesday, the United Kingdom reported the detection of a Russian spy ship near its territories, in the vicinity of British waters north of Scotland.
According to British Defense Minister John Healey, a Royal Navy frigate and RAF (Air Force) planes were mobilized and received laser threats.
