A Russian cruise missile flew over NATO territory for 39 seconds overnight as Vladimir Putin’s forces launched a major air attack on Western Ukraine.
Around 20 missiles and seven kamikaze drones targeted the Lviv region of Ukraine, near the Polish border, in the early hours of Sunday. One of the missiles entered Poland's airspace for as long as 39 seconds, with NATO fighter jets deployed to "ensure the security” of Polish airspace.
“Polish airspace was violated by one of the cruise missiles," it was reported. “The object entered Polish airspace near the town of Oserdów and stayed there for 39 seconds.”
The Operational Command of the Polish armed forces was "observing intensive long-range aviation activity of the Russian Federation…related to air and missile strikes against facilities located on Ukrainian territory”. "All necessary procedures to ensure the security of Polish airspace have been activated," said Poland’s operational command.
The head of the Polish National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, said he had spoken with the head of the Ministry of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. "The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was immediately informed," he said.
READ MORE: Moscow massacre suspects pictured as they reveal dark motives behind mass shooting which killed 150
The Sunday morning attack was Russia's third missile attack on Ukraine in the past four days, with Putin's forces reportedly using 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.
It comes as Ukraine launched its own attack on Russian-annexed Sevastopol in Crimea. There were huge explosions in the city believed to be from Storm Shadow missiles, the kind supplied to Ukraine by the UK.
The communications centre of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was reportedly hit. A 65-year-old man died and four people were wounded in the strikes, said reports. However it is not known if there were more casualties at the targeted communications centre.
Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev described the onslaught as a “massive” attack by Ukraine. Russian air defences claimed to have shot down more than 10 missiles and numerous drones .
The OSINTtechnical project said the Ukrainians had struck a fleet facility, with a video posted on social media showing the moment the facility was hit. "At least three Ukrainian Storm Shadow cruise missiles… hit a major communication node of the Russian Black Sea Fleet," they reported.
Telegram channel Crimean Wind said: "The hit of the missiles was at the main special communication node of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on Mykola Muzika Street.” The commander of the Ukrainian Air Force thanked “the pilots and sailors for their successful combat work.”
It comes after Putin revealed Russian authorities had arrested four men suspected of carrying out the attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people. The Russian president claimed they were captured while fleeing to Ukraine.
Kyiv strongly denied any involvement in Friday’s attack on the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk and so-called Islamic State’s Afghanistan affiliate claimed responsibility. Putin did not mention IS in his speech, and Kyiv accused him and other Russian politicians of falsely linking Ukraine to the assault in order to stoke anger over Russia’s war in Ukraine, which recently entered its third year.