Another Massive Terrorist Attack by Russia on Ukraine: Casualties and Injuries Reported, Poland Scrambles F-16s

This morning, on 26 August, Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike against 15 regions of Ukraine. The Russian army used about 100 Shahed drones and more than 100 missiles of various types, including Kalibr missiles from warships in the Black Sea and missiles from Tu-95MS bombers. Later, Russia also raised three MiG-31K aircraft carrying the Daggers. Ukrenergo introduced emergency power cuts.  Critical civilian infrastructure and energy system facilities were primarily affected. There have been civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to energy facilities. 

‘We are currently working across the country to eliminate the consequences of the Russian strike. It was one of the largest attacks - a combined strike involving more than a hundred missiles of various types and about a hundred Shaheds. Like most Russian attacks before, this one was just as insidious, targeting critical civilian infrastructure,’ said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

‘Across Ukraine, we could have done much more to protect lives if our European neighbours' aircraft had worked together with our F-16s and air defence systems. If such unity has proven effective in the Middle East, it should also work in Europe. Life has the same value everywhere,’ Zelenskyy added. 

‘America, Britain, France and our other partners have the power to help us stop this terror. It is time for decisive action,’ the President of Ukraine concluded. 

Poland has launched F-16 fighter jets to protect the country's airspace due to Russia's missile attack on Ukrainian territory. The X Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces reported this on social media

‘Russia continues to wage a cowardly war against the civilian population, which is a war crime. Russian attacks have no justification. They must be strongly condemned and met with tangible actions by the international community,’ said Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. 

He stressed that there are two concrete decisions that Ukraine's partners can take to help put an end to Russian terror as soon as possible. 

Firstly, to confirm Ukraine's right to conduct long-range strikes against all legitimate military targets in Russia. 

Secondly, an agreement to use the air defence capabilities of partners to shoot down missiles and drones approaching their airspace. 

Kuleba noted that none of these decisions is an escalation, but rather they will deter Russia, help reduce terror and the number of Russian attacks, as well as the number of victims associated with them.