Russian drones breach Nato airspace as Putin’s forces close in on Pokrovsk

INDEPENDENT:  Russian drones have breached Nato airspace as Vladimir Putin’s forces targeted Ukraine in an “irresponsible” overnight attack.

Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets to monitor the drones, which were detected in the early hours of Sunday morning while Latvia shared photos of a crashed drone in its eastern region.

Nato’s outgoing deputy secretary general Mircea Geoană said: “While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous.”

It comes as Moscow closed in on Pokrovsk, a key strategic town in eastern Ukraine which has seen intense battles over recent weeks.

Russian forces, which control about a fifth of Ukraine since invading in February 2022, are advancing on the town in an attempt to take the whole of the Donbas.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had taken the town of Novohrodivka, which lies 12 km (7 miles) from Pokrovsk.

Kyiv said 29 attempted Russian advances had been repelled, with seven skirmishes continuing throughout Sunday.

Meanwhile, CIA director William Burns said Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk has caused Russian elites to question Vladimir Putin’s war.