NATO forced to scramble warplanes as WW3 fears erupt over Putin's major new strikes

NATO was once again forced to scramble warplanes after Russian attacks near allied territory (Image: Getty)

NATO was forced to scramble warplanes for the second time in three nights as Russia staged major new strikes just several hundred yards from allied territory. This came amid strong new efforts at meetings in Geneva to forge a US-led peace proposal acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine, with Vladimir Putin’s actions showing no sign he wants the war to end.

NATO fighters were scrambled after new drone strikes on Izmail, a key Ukrainian port on the River Danube, which forms the border with Romania, an alliance state. “Two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the German allies, from the Reinforced Air Police combat service, were scrambled to monitor the air situation,” said a Romanian Air Force statement. Later, incoming drones were detected north of Ukraine’s Snake Island in the Black Sea. Two F-16 fighters from the Romanian Air Force were scrambled.

Russia is seeking to flood Europe with both migrants and drugs, warned Michael Claesson (Image: Getty)

“The F-16 aircraft reported air targets at various distances from Ismail, and explosions were then observed on the Ukrainian side,” said the statement.

The Romanians accused Russia of “drone attacks on civilian targets and port infrastructure” in Ukraine. Romanian territory is several hundred yards across the Danube from Ukraine.

Separately, Moscow is orchestrating the supply of hard drugs and migrants from Africa to destabilise the West, a leading NATO general has warned. Russia is seeking to flood Europe with both migrants and drugs, having taken control of key criminal supply routes in North Africa, warned Michael Claesson, chief of NATO state Sweden’s defence staff. “This transports very quickly [...] to the whole of Europe and NATO territory,” he said.

This was apart from Putin’s “sabotage, special operations, even attacks against individuals” and seeking to hijack elections, and was all aimed at destabilising the West, he told the Financial Times. Putin was seeking to exploit Western political strains, he said, adding that the West needs to be more alive to threats from Russian activities in North Africa.

In horrific overnight strikes, Russia killed a mother of two children in Kharkiv (Image: east2west news)

In horrific overnight strikes causing terror among civilians, Russia killed a mother of two children in Kharkiv. She was buried under rubble, among four dead from a massive drone strike that left 17 wounded. The woman, Natalya, was visiting her sister in the Shevchenkivskyi district when she was killed, said her son, Oleksandr Balaklytskyi.

“She called and said that a nearby building had just been hit,” he said. “She went outside frightened, saying the windows had been blown out. And then I hear again that a 'Shahed' is flying. She says, 'It's descending,' and starts to panic. And 'bang' — she screamed and then the connection was lost.”

Russian drones also caused carnage in Chernihiv, hitting a residential area, with two victims suffering burns.

The Russian strikes came amid signs Britain and Europe forced some concessions into the 28-point US peace proposal. Chief Ukrainian negotiator Andriy Yermak called the meeting “very productive” and thanked Donald Trump for his efforts “to bring this peace.” The White House said there was now an “updated and refined peace framework”.