Ukraine’s top general says the missiles crossed into Romanian and Moldovan airspace.
Two Russian Kalibr cruise missiles launched from the Black Sea on Friday morning crossed the airspace of Moldova and a corner of Romania – a NATO member – before entering western Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s chief commander said.
- UPDATE The defense ministry of Romania said that a Russian missile had come within 22 miles of its border but that it did not cross into the country’s territory.
- UPDATE Moldovan officials confirm the violation of their country’s airspace by a Russian missile today.
The Ukrainska Pravda online newspaper quoted a Ukrainian air force spokesperson saying separately that Ukraine had the ability to shoot down the missiles. However, it did not do so for fear of endangering civilians in foreign countries.
The alarm was raised after warnings that Russia had launched Tu-95 strategic bombers. There were reports that other planes had been launched from Belarus.
This is part of “Russia’s latest massive missile attack in Ukraine, using cruise missiles launched both from the air and from the sea,” according to the governor of the Mykolaiv region, Viitaliy Kim, who said that some 20 missiles were launched in the first wave of attacks.
Romania’s defense ministry said it wasn’t confirming the incident.
Explosions were heard in Kyiv, hours after as many as 20 missiles were launched in the latest barrage from Kremlin troops aimed at on energy infrastructure and other targets.
