Poland accuses Putin of violating airspace with missile attack on Lviv – live

Russia has launched its third massive missile attack on Ukraine in the past four days, with Poland‘s military saying one of the missiles briefly entered its airspace on Sunday.

Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said Russia used cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

An air alert in the capital lasted for more than two hours as rockets entered Kyiv in groups from the north.

Mr Popko said the attacks were launched from the Engels district in the Saratov region of Russia.

According to preliminary data, there were no casualties or damage in the capital, he added.

The operation command of Nato member Poland said in a statement there was a violation of its airspace at 3.23am GMT by one of the cruise missiles launched by Russia.

The object entered near the Polish town of Oserdow and stayed there for 39 seconds, the statement said.

It added that military radar systems observed the missile the entire time and all necessary procedures were launched to ensure the safety of Polish airspace.

The ballistic and cruise missiles, the first fired on the Ukrainian capital in 44 days, were knocked out of the sky, but at least 17 people were injured in Kyiv and the surrounding area by falling debris. Schools, residential buildings and industrial facilities were also damaged, Ukrainian officials said.

Russian president Vladimir Putin had threatened to “respond in kind” to Ukrainian aerial attacks in recent days on Russia’s Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine. The assaults have been an embarrassment for the Kremlin. On Thursday, five people were injured in the latest attack, which damaged homes and the city’s sports stadium, local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Russia’s ministry of defence said it had intercepted 10 rockets over the region.

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Even with a budget of more than $800 billion and the ability to buy millions of weapons and pieces of equipment every year, the Pentagon sometimes can find a few dollars in the couch cushions. Or, make that $300 million.

For the second time in nine months, Defense Department accountants have sharpened their pencils, pored over their books and found a way to send more military aid to Ukraine.

That $300 million figure may sound huge to ordinary citizens who struggle to pay the mortgage. But it’s not for the Pentagon. Given the vast size of the military budget, even minor savings like shaving a few dollars off every bullet in a new contract can translate into millions of dollars.

That’s how White House and Pentagon leaders explained how they could send a new package of weapons and equipment to Ukraine this month even though the bill to fund military aid is stalled in Congress. It was the first aid package since late December, and the lack of U.S. weapons deliveries has caused Ukrainian troops on the front lines to ration or run out of ammunition.

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The ability of Kyiv’s troops to defend against Russian attacks along the 600-mile frontline has been dealt a blow in recent months by the inability of the US Congress to agree to tens of billions of dollars in military funding for Ukraine, it is an ongoing stalemate. Critically, on the frontlines, there has been a dangerous shortfall in supplies of artillery shells. Artillery has been key to Ukraine’s defence of existing positions and to any potential advance.

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A Briton, tortured by Russia while a prisoner of war (POW), called for immediate help from the US to save Ukraine during the latest virtual event from The Independent.

Shaun Pinner, a veteran of numerous tours with the British army, pointed out the impossible situation facing Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and the country’s military leadership. “They’re talking about calling up half a million more [conscripts]. But what’s the point without any ammunition? They need help now.”

Answering questions from viewers during our exclusive event on 21 March, hosted by Tim White, the soldier also recounted his time being held in occupied Donetsk after being forced to surrender in Mariupol in 2022.

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Poland’s government has prepared new legislation to boost the nation’s capacity for self-defense, including more funding for first aid courses, better public warning systems, and more emergency shelters, officials said Friday.

Ministers of defense and of the interior said the bill was prompted by the war that neighboring Ukraine is fighting against Russia’s aggression. Russia has recently captured territory in the east, while Ukraine is running critically low on ammunition.

The legislation will be put before Parliament probably in May, after consultations with the public and with local authorities, ministers said

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Russia’s defence ministry on Saturday said its forces had taken control of the village of Krasnoye in Ukraine‘s Donetsk region and improved its tactical position on the front line there.

Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield report.

The Ministry of Defence has released new images of Ukrainian pilots undergoing training with the RAF.

The pilots have now graduated and will carry out further training in France.

It comes after Ukraine’s president Zelensky made an international plea last year for more air support in the war with Russia.

Mother Aysa and her cubs Emi, Santa and Teddi spent nine months in a holding facility in Poland having escaped Russian bombs.

Aysa, from a private collection in the Donetsk region, was abandoned as Vladimir Putin’s invaders occupied Ukraine.

The park said Aysa was alone, malnourished and traumatised by bombings when she was rescued and taken to an interim sanctuary in Kyiv – where she gave birth to the cubs before they were all moved to a temporary facility at Poznan Zoo.

On Tuesday, they were driven the 1,000 miles to Yorkshire, arriving at the wildlife park before being unloaded at their new home on Thursday.