OVER 60 bodies have been discovered in Kherson displaying signs of “torture,” Ukraine’s interior minister has claimed.
As Ukraine’s troops retake the region, which was last week liberated from 8 months of Russian occupation, they are discovering the horrors left behind by Putin’s bloodthirsty invasion.
“Now, 63 bodies have been discovered in Kherson region, but we must understand that the search has only just started so many more dungeons and burial places will be uncovered,” said Denys Monastyrsky according to Interfax Ukraine news agency.
He added: “Investigators are currently examining them and setting down every instance of torture. Exhumations are also taking place of the bodies of those who were killed.”
Meanwhile, NATO says Russia is still “to blame” for an “accidental” missile strike that killed two in Poland – as it was nlikely caused by Ukrainian defence systems responding to Putin’s attacks.
Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest updates…
What is Article 4 of NATO treaty?
On NATO’s website it states that Article 4 means “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.
“All NATO decisions are made by consensus, after discussion and consultation among member countries.
“Consultation between member states is therefore at the heart of NATO since Allies are able to exchange views and information, and discuss issues prior to reaching agreement and taking action.
“It also gives NATO an active role in preventive diplomacy by providing the means to help avoid military conflict.”
‘We will defend the right of territorial integrity until the job is done’
James Cleverly added that the UK will send a message “to every other potential aggressor”.
Mr Cleverly said: “I spoke in the past about the need for strategic endurance, recognising that we must send the message not just now about Putin, but to every other potential aggressor around the world, that we will defend the UN Charter and we will defend international humanitarian law.
“We will defend the right of territorial integrity, and we will defend it until the job is done.”
‘Prime Minister immediately called President Duda of Poland’
The UK’s Foreign Secretary told the Commons that he immediately contacted his Polish counterpart to express the “sympathy and solidarity” of the UK.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Cleverly said: “At approximately 19:00 last night there were missile explosions in a village in eastern Poland, approximately four miles from the border with Ukraine, killing two civilians and wounding four during an extended Russian bombardment of Ukrainian territory.
“As soon as I received the report I contacted my Polish counterpart to express the sympathy and solidarity of the UK and I’m sure the whole House will share that sentiment and also to offer practical support.
“The Prime Minister immediately called President Duda of Poland to covey the UK’s condolences for the tragic loss of civilian life, and to assure him of our unwavering support to a steadfast NATO ally.”
James Cleverly says ‘Russia ultimately responsible’
The foreign secretary contacted his Polish counterpart and offered “practical support”.
He added that the “UK have assured Poland of our unwavering support to our NATO ally”
He commended Poland’s “calm response to the situation”.
‘Germany stands close to our NATO partner Poland’
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to Polish President Andrzej Duda.
During their chat, Scholz expressed his condolences over the incident, a government spokesman says.
Spokesman Steffen Hebestreit Tweeted: “The @Bundeskanzler just phoned Polish President Duda and expressed his condolences.
“Poland will closely investigate the circumstances of the incident in which two citizens died last night.
“Germany stands close to our NATO partner Poland.”
Kremlin fines google 21billion Rubles, Russian state media claims
Russian state media outlet Interfax reported the Kremlin has taken Google to court over a 21billion Ruble fine placed on the search engine provider.
The fine, according to Interfax, is for the “repeated refusal to remove inaccurate content related to a special operation [invasion] in Ukraine.”
Russian courts found Google guilty but the tech company is yet to pay the cash.
Missile ‘very likely’ to be from Ukrainian air defences – Polish President
Polish President Andrzej Duda said today the missile that hit Poland was “very likely” to have come from Ukraine’s air defences.
Throughout yesterday morning, a series of reports have emerged to suggest this missile strike was an accident, rather than a purposeful provocation by the Kremlin.
Joe Biden echoed these sentiments saying it is “unlikely” the missile came from Russia.
Sweden announces new aid package for Ukraine
Sweden has announced a new aid package worth £241million for Ukraine.
This comes as the nation faces a historically difficult winter following Putin’s campaign to destroy the country’s infrastructure.
Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, took to Twitter to hail this new package.
He confirmed the deal will supply Ukraine with air defence systems, vehicles and winter equipment.
Britain still ‘establish the facts’ regarding Poland missile Ben Wallace says
The UK’s Defence Minister has said the country is still “trying to establish the facts” regarding the missile that hit Poland.
“We’re all trying to establish the facts, the international community is working together,” Mr Wallace said.
“I think the Polish prime minister has been pretty clear that we will progress once we know exactly what’s happened.
“The obvious point is that missiles were flying around yesterday because Russia was firing over 80 missiles into Ukraine, hitting civilian locations, inevitably killing innocent civilians. That is because of Russia’s direct aggression on that state.”
Germany offers to patrol Polish airspace
Germany has offered to patrol Polish airspace, following the missile that struck a village in eastern Poland yesterday.
“As an immediate reaction to the incident in Poland, we will offer to strengthen air policing with combat air patrols over its airspace with German Eurofighters,” German Defence Ministry spokesperson Christian Thiels said at a press conference.
“The mission could begin as early as tomorrow, if Poland desired,” he went on to say.
In pictures: Where the missile hit
Yesterday, a missile, of currently unknown origin, hit the Polish village of Przewodów.
Pictured below, Mateusz Zub, 30, reacts to the attack that killed two of his colleagues.
Russian losses mount amid fears of attack on NATO soil
Russian losses have continued to mount in the last 24 hours, according to Ukrainian military sources.
As reported in the Kyiv Independent, Russia lost a further 630 troops yesterday, bringing the total estimated casualties to 82,710.
This comes amid startling reports of “Russian missiles” killing two in NATO country Poland.
Pictured: Razor wire fence installed by Poland
Poland has installed an 8ft razor wire fence along its border with Russia following the horror missile blitz that sparked a NATO emergency.
Soldiers laid miles of the 10ft-wide barbed fencing near Szyliny village close to the Russian enclave of Kalinigrad amid fears Moscow is about to provoke a migrant crisis to wreak havoc in the EU.
Keir Starmer offers condolences to Poland
Labour leader Keir Starmer took to Twitter this morning to pay his respects to the two people that died in Poland yesterday.
Mr Starmer said: “I and the entire Labour Party offer condolences for the loss of life in Poland.
“Britain stands united with our NATO allies.”
Russian defence ministry denies involvement in Poland missile strike
The Russian ministry of defence has denied any involvement in the missile that landed in Poland yesterday, killing two, reports Reuters.
According to the report, the MoD confirmed that Russia launched several successful missile strikes on Ukraine yesterday, targeting the nation’s infrastructure.
However, Kremlin officials noted that these attacks took place no closer than 22 miles from the Ukraine-Poland border.
Rather, Russian officials accused Ukraine of the attack, stating images show the missile was a Ukrainian S-300.
US claim they ‘have seen nothing that contradicts President Duda’s preliminary assessment’
According to the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, the US have not seen anything that contradicts Poland’s preliminary assessment.
Poland have claimed that the explosion on its land was the result of a Ukrainian air defence missile.
Speaking at a news conference he said:”We’re still gathering information but we have seen nothing that contradicts President Duda’s preliminary assessment that this explosion was most likely the result of a Ukrainian air defense missile that unfortunately landed in Poland.”
Missile coming from Ukraine ‘changes very little’ – Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said the missile to hit Poland yesterday being of Ukrainian origin “changes very little.”
Ms Meloni made the comments while speaking at the G20 Summit in Bali.
“The possibility that the missile falling on Poland was not a Russian missile but a Ukrainian one changes very little,” she said.
‘Missiles are flying through European skies because of Putin’s barbaric invasion’
The UK’s Foreign Secretary has uploaded his address to the Commons to Twitter.
He said: “As we pursue further clarity on the tragic incident in Poland last night, one thing is for certain.
“The only reason why missiles are flying through European skies is because of Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine.”
The Polish ambassador has been summoned to Moscow
The Polish ambassador has been summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow, spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Reuters.
Zelensky claims the missile that struck Poland last night ‘was not Ukrainian’
According to the Interfax news agency, Zelensky has said he has “no doubt” that the missile that struck Poland last night “was not Ukrainian”.
The Ukrainian added that his nation “must have access” to the site.
Poland’s PM claims they ‘cannot rule out’ that missile strike ‘is a provocation’
Poland’s PM has claimed they “cannot rule out” that the missile strike “is a provocation”.
Mateusz Morawiecki said: “We cannot rule out that the shelling of Ukrainian infrastructure near the border was an intentional provocation done in the hope that such a situation could arise.”
Ukraine extends martial law
Ukraine have extended martial law for another three months.
This means military authorities remain in charge until at least 19 February 2023.
This is an emergency measure due to the current war.
MI5 says 400 Russian spies have been ejected from European countries since the start of the war
Ken McCallum, the Director General of MI5, has claimed that Russia had suffered a “strategic blow” after 400 spies were expelled from around Europe since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The MI5 Chief added that the UK has refused 100 Russian diplomatic visa applications on national security grounds.
What is Article 4 of NATO treaty?
On NATO’s website it states that Article 4 means “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.
“All NATO decisions are made by consensus, after discussion and consultation among member countries.
“Consultation between member states is therefore at the heart of NATO since Allies are able to exchange views and information, and discuss issues prior to reaching agreement and taking action.
“It also gives NATO an active role in preventive diplomacy by providing the means to help avoid military conflict.”
‘Full details are not complete’
UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “At this point, the full details of the incident are not complete, but earlier today Jens Stoltenberg said there was no indication that this was the result of a deliberate attack.”
He added: “Our response will always be led by the fact.”