Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania issue a joint statement on Russia’s drone incursion into Poland. Russia launches a major drone attack on Kramatorsk. Ukraine’s defense intelligence strikes a Russian ship near Novorossiysk with a domestic drone.
Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania issue joint statement on Russia’s drone incursion into Poland
Only joint coordinated action can provide security to the citizens of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, said foreign ministers of the countries in a joint statement issued on Thursday after multiple Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace the night before.
Ukraine is ready to share “all available intelligence and operational data with Poland, Lithuania and other partners” to build an efficient early warning system and adequate defense against Russian missile and drone attacks, the statement reads.
The ministers recognized the need for “better coordination and operational cooperation of our respective structures responsible for air security. Such coordinated action should be aimed at preventing the negative consequences of Russian outrageous action and desirably lead to upscaled efficiency of our air defence measures.”
The countries call on allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses and support Lithuania and Poland in their efforts to secure the eastern flank of NATO and the EU. “Only an adequate and strong response will prevent further escalation,” the statement says.
The countries also called on their citizens to stay vigilant of Russia’s “malign disinformation attempts.”
A recent Russian drone incursion into Poland is “an unprecedented provocation and escalation of tension,” the ministers said.
The European Parliament debated Russia’s drone incursion into Polish airspace on Thursday morning. Poland has said the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting in response to the incident.
Russia launches major drone attack on Kramatorsk
Russia launched a drone attack on Kramatorsk, in Donetsk region, on Wednesday that lasted more than 10 hours, regional police said. At least 15 drones hit target. Six people, including teenagers ages 16 and 17, were injured. Apartment buildings and a local market were damaged in the attack. Russia used various types of drones to deliver the strike, including FPV, Shahed and fixed-wing drones, Ukraine’s Ground Forces said.
Russia launched a second drone strike on an administrative building in Kramatorsk as its first strike, targeting firefighters who rushed to the scene to help. There were no casualties. A fire ladder was damaged, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said on Thursday. It was not clear whether the report referred to the attack of the day before.
Ukraine’s defense intelligence strikes Russian ship near Novorossiysk with domestic drone
Ukraine’s defense intelligence struck a Russia Project MPSV07 multipurpose support ship near Novorossiysk on Wednesday, the agency said. The vessel is part of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
“At the time of the attack launched by the special forces of the Main Intelligence Department, the Russian vessel was conducting electronic reconnaissance and patrolling approaches to Novorossiysk Bay, where the aggressor keeps what remains of its Black Sea Fleet,” the statement says.
The military used a Ukrainian-made attack drone that hit the vessel’s bridge that has navigation and communications systems. The strike destroyed the reconnaissance equipment, and the ship will require expensive repairs.
The ship is one of four in Russia’s fleet. Commissioned in 2015, it is worth an estimated USD 60 million.
The MPSV07-class vessel is equipped with diving systems, remotely operated vehicles, side-scan sonar, and electronic reconnaissance systems. It can be used for sea bottom surveys. The vessel’s power capacity is about 4 MW.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, as of Thursday, Russia has lost 28 ships and a submarine since the invasion.
