Local sources from Ukraine: Радіо Свобода, news.liga.net.
UK coverage: Reuters.
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Poland has activated its fighter jets to safeguard its airspace following substantial Russian strikes on western Ukraine, alarmingly close to the Polish border. This move comes as part of a broader response by Polish and allied aircraft to counter the aggressive air attacks from Russia, marking a tense moment in the ongoing conflict that has gripped the region. The Polish Operational Command’s decision underscores the growing concerns among NATO member states regarding Russia’s military assertiveness and its implications for regional security. The recent Russian offensive involved a staggering deployment of 479 drones and 20 missiles, representing the largest overnight assault since the onset of the war, as reported by Ukrainian authorities. Targets extended well beyond the conventional front lines, with the region of Rivne being notably affected, according to its mayor, Oleksandr Tretyak. These developments have sparked a series of retaliatory measures and heightened military readiness among neighboring countries and NATO allies. In a related discourse, Mark Rutte, during discussions on the war in Ukraine, stressed the urgent need for NATO to bolster its defense capabilities in light of Russia’s accelerating military production. The NATO Secretary General highlighted alarming figures indicating that Russia is outpacing the alliance in ammunition production by a factor of three and is on track to significantly enhance its military hardware within the year. Rutte’s call to action includes a recommendation for NATO countries to elevate their defense spending to above 3% of GDP, a move aimed at countering the growing threat from the East. Moreover, he announced that the NATO Summit 2025 will convene at the World Forum in The Hague from June 24 to 26, 2025, setting the stage for critical discussions on the alliance’s future strategy and collective security measures. Concurrently, Russia’s aggressive military tactics have also been felt across Ukraine, with a massive drone and ballistic missile attack targeting Kyiv and Odesa. These relentless assaults underscore the grave humanitarian and security challenges faced by Ukraine since the commencement of the full-scale war. The Security Service of Ukraine has been at the forefront of investigating almost 139,000 war crimes attributed to Russian forces, leading to the initiation of 96,000 criminal proceedings, as revealed in a response to an information request by LIGA.net. As the international community watches closely, the unfolding situation at the eastern borders of NATO presents a stark reminder of the volatile geopolitical landscape and the imperative for a unified and robust response to aggression.
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