Summary

  • The Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg says the blast in Poland late on Tuesday was likely to have been caused by Ukraine's air defence systems

  • He echoed the words of Poland's President Duda, who also said there was no sign that the missile hit was part of an intentional attack

  • Two people were killed after a missile landed in eastern Poland following a wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine

  • US President Joe Biden has also said it was "unlikely" that the missile was fired from Russia

  • The American reaction earned rare praise from Russia - with a Kremlin spokesman describing it as "restrained and professional"

  1. US intelligence source reported Poland missile strike - APpublished at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    The Associated Press news agency says a senior US intelligence official was the source for the report about missiles hitting a Polish farm, without naming the official.

    Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller did not immediately confirm the report, AP says.

    The Pentagon has said it cannot corroborate the report, Reuters news agency says.

    The Polish meeting is scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

    Reuters quotes Polish firefighters as confirming that two people died in an explosion in Przewodów.

    "Firefighters are on the spot, it's not clear what has happened," said Lukasz Kucy, officer on duty at a nearby firefighters' post.

  2. Poland holds urgent meeting amid reports of stray Russian missile strikepublished at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022
    Breaking

    Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak (L) arrives at the National Security Bureau hedquarters in Warsaw, Poland, 15 November 2022Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak is taking part in the meeting

    Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has convened an urgent meeting of Poland's National Security Council after unconfirmed reports that stray Russian missiles hit a farm in a Polish village near the Ukrainian border, killing two people.

    The village has been named as Przewodów.

  3. Analysis

    A race against time for both sidespublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Paul Adams
    BBC Diplomatic correspondent

    Despite the wide geographical scope of today’s Russian attacks, the deaths caused and the damage done to Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, this appears to have been a relatively successful day for Ukraine’s air defences.

    According to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of President Zelensky’s office, Russia launched over 90 missiles, of which 73 were shot down.

    Fifteen energy infrastructure facilities were hit, Tymoshenko said, forcing the government to impose emergency blackouts.

    When Russia began systematically targeting Ukraine’s energy grid, on 10 October, 83 missiles were fired, and only 43 shot down.

    Then, as now, Russia also used Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones (11 were shot down on Tuesday), but it’s Moscow’s cruise and ballistic missiles, with their greater accuracy and explosive impact, which Ukraine fears most.

    Kyiv’s Western backers have increased the supply of air defence weapons in response to Ukraine’s urgent requests.

    It seems to be paying off.

    But the cumulative effect of successive waves of attacks on civilian infrastructure is, without doubt, putting Ukraine’s resources under enormous strain.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Western officials said - not for the first time - that Russia was running out of high-precision weaponry. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that Moscow might have as few as 120 Iskander short-range ballistic missiles and only about a month’s worth of artillery ammunition.

    A Western official said these estimates were “in the right ballpark".

    Stocks of Kalibr cruise missiles, used extensively today, are also thought to be running low.

    For both sides in this war, it’s a race against time. How much damage can Russia do before it loses the ability to inflict more? And just how much punishment can Ukraine’s energy infrastructure take before it collapses under the strain?

  4. Climate activists call Russian officials war criminalspublished at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Georgina Rannard
    Climate reporter in Sharm el-Sheikh

    Media caption,

    WATCH: Protesters disrupt Russian event at COP27

    A group of Ukrainian activists has disrupted a high-level meeting of Russian officials at the UN climate summit in Egypt.

    It's the first time Russia was speaking publicly at COP27.

    Russian Deputy Environment Minister Sergei Anopriyenko had just started talking when a young woman stood up shouting: "You are killing my people. You are shooting bombs at our people."

    Then another held a banner bearing the slogan Fossil Fuels Kill.

    Seconds later, Viktoriya Ball stood up and shouted "you are war criminals" before walking out.

    She told me outside the plenary room that Russia should not be at COP27.

    "This conference is about making a better place for people and planet. But Russia is committing genocide, ecocide, they are destroying Ukraine, and fossil fuels are paying for war in my country," she said.

    Alyona Lovita, who came to Sharm el-Sheikh from Lviv, Ukraine, said she protested for her relatives living under bombardment.

    After protesters were escorted out by UN security, Russian officials continued their event, telling the meeting that "we cannot stop climate change".

  5. Seven million homes without power after strikespublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022
    Breaking

    Some seven million households have been left without electricity in Ukraine after Tuesday's wave of Russian missile strikes targeted the country's energy supplies, according to Ukraine's presidential office.

    Customers experienced power cuts in the Kyiv, Vinnytsya, Volyn, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyy, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi and Chernihiv regions.

    Some 15 energy facilities were damaged as a result of the attacks, said the deputy head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko.

    "Our power engineers are now doing everything to reconnect the power supply as soon as possible," he said.

  6. 'I saw two missiles' - Kyiv residents witness attacks on citypublished at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Ludmila, 72, a Kyiv resident originally from Donetsk, was an eyewitness to the missile attack in Kyiv
    Image caption,

    Kyiv resident Ludmila says she witnessed two missile strikes happen within seconds of each other

    Ludmila, 72, a Kyiv resident originally from Donetsk, was an eyewitness to the missile attack on Ukraine's capital.

    She was talking to her son and could hear the sound of a huge explosion. She ran to the window and saw two missiles.

    One went to a tall residential building under construction. The second missile hit a house and caused it to burst into flames, all of which happened in seconds, she said.

    Two flatmates, Inna and Alina, both aged 18 and from Kyiv, witnessed the missile strikes in Kyiv

    Two flatmates, Inna and Alina, both aged 18 and from Kyiv, live near where the explosions happened.

    They heard both of the strikes and said pieces of the missiles had landed in their yard.

    They ran to shelter in their parking lot and said their cat was the only thing they took with them.

    They said that ambulances arrived very quickly to the scene.

  7. 'We will survive everything' - Zelenskypublished at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    In the Telegram video he shared after Tuesday's attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to deliver a message of hope to his citizens under fire.

    "We are working, we will restore everything, we will survive everything," he said. "Glory to Ukraine. You are doing great."

  8. What's been happening?published at 17:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    A Ukrainian policeman and firefighters intervene at the scene where a Russian missile fragment fell near a residential building causing fire in the centre of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on 15 November 2022Image source, Getty Images

    If you're just joining us or need a catch-up, here's the latest on the attacks on Ukraine which came on the day some world leaders condemned Russia at a G20 summit in Indonesia:

    • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says 85 missiles were launched on Tuesday and 20 more were expected to hit the country
    • At least one person is killed in the strikes on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and the situation across the country is described as "critical" after missiles strike energy facilities
    • It's not clear whether Tuesday's missile strikes will affect the outcome of a draft declaration, seen by news agencies, which says Russia's invasion of Ukraine is "strongly condemned" by "most" countries at the G20
    • Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticises Western nations for what he describes as the "politicisation" of the G20 declaration
    • Zelensky tells the G20 leaders by video link that Russia's "destructive war" must end now
    • China praises Russia's position that a nuclear war "must never be fought" when the two countries' foreign ministers meet at the summit, adding that it shows Russia's "rational and responsible attitude".
  9. Analysis

    Hot on the heels of a humiliating withdrawalpublished at 17:37 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Paul Adams
    BBC Diplomatic correspondent

    Russia’s attempt to wreck Ukraine’s power grid has been going on for more than a month, with a very clear intention: to plunge Ukraine into frigid darkness when winter finally arrives in earnest.

    In the face of one military setback after another, Moscow is lashing out with long-range, precision weapons against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.

    What to make of the timing? The first wave of these attacks, on 10 October, came two days after an explosion, thought to be the work of Ukrainian intelligence, crippled the Kerch Bridge, linking Russia with occupied Crimea.

    Today’s strikes come hot on the heels of Russia’s humiliating withdrawal from the southern city of Kherson.

    But they also come as G20 leaders in Bali are discussing the wording of a statement on Ukraine, expected to be released on Wednesday.

    The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, did not attend the gathering, but his tireless Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, is there, arguing Russia’s case.

    At a time when the United States and Britain are trying to chip away at Russia’s international support, you have to wonder what effect today’s attacks will have on Moscow’s allies in Beijing - or on those countries, like India and South Africa, which remain uncomfortably on the fence, even after nine months of this war.

  10. Moldova calls on Russia to end attackspublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    As we noted earlier, the missile strikes on Ukraine have also caused disruption to electricity services in neighbouring Moldova.

    Now the country's Foreign Minister, Nicu Popescu, has called on Russia to stop its attacks.

    "Parts of Moldova are experiencing power outages as a result of Russia's missiles hitting Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure," Popescu tweeted., external

    Quote Message

    Every bomb falling on Ukraine is also affecting Moldova and our people. We call on Russia to stop the destruction now."

    Nicu Popescu, Moldovan Foreign Minister

  11. 'Callous' strikes shows Putin's weakness - UKpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs James CleverlyImage source, PA Media

    UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has criticised Russia's latest wave of "callous" missile strikes across Ukraine.

    Cleverly tweeted, external: "The callous targeting of Ukrainian cities with more sickening missile attacks today shows only Putin’s weakness.

    "Putin is losing on the battlefield and - as we saw today at the G20 - diplomatically too."

    He ended his post on Twitter with the hashtag #PutinMustFail.

  12. China praises Russia's 'rational' attitude to nuclear warpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) shaking hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Bali, Indonesia, 15 November 2022Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Sergei Lavrov (L) shaking hands with Wang Yi

    If there are any differences between China and Russia at the summit, they are not apparent in Beijing's account of talks between the two countries' foreign ministers.

    China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said Russia's position that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought" showed Russia's "rational and responsible attitude", according to Chinese state news agency Xinha.

    Wang told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that China was pleased to see Russia signal its willingness to engage in dialogue over Ukraine and agree to resume the Black Sea grain export deal.

    "China is willing to work with Russia to push forward their high-level exchanges and communication in various fields, deepen bilateral practical co-operation and facilitate personnel exchanges," Wang was quoted as saying.

  13. Internet connectivity falls to 67% in Ukrainepublished at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Smoke rises over Lviv after today's Russian missile strikesImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Smoke rises over Lviv after Tuesday's Russian missile strikes

    Internet monitoring group Netblocks has said Ukraine is currently experiencing "major internet disruption" with live metrics showing that national connectivity is at 67% of previous levels.

    The strikes appear to have targeted energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Reports say electricity is part-suspended in several regions and cities including Odesa, while the western city of Zhitomyr has none at all. Almost all of the western region of Termopil also has no power supply.

    The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, said 80% of the city was without electricity, so there was no heating or hot water (at a time when temperatures are low).

    Internet connectivity and the wider energy supply have also been disrupted in nearby Moldova because of the Russian bombardment of the Ukrainian energy system, says that country's Deputy Prime Minister, Andrei Spinu.

  14. Largest attack on energy infrastructure to date - Ukrainepublished at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko says Tuesday's attack on the Ukrainian energy system is the largest since Russia's war on Ukraine started on 24 February.

  15. 'Take the side of people, not war criminals' - Ukrainepublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Ukrainian firefighters at the scene where a Russian missile fragment fell near a residential building in KyivImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Firefighters at the scene where a Russian missile fragment fell near a residential building in Kyiv

    Ukraine has urged G20 leaders to issue a "principled" response to the fresh wave of Russian strikes across the country.

    At least one person was killed and energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine was damaged after Russia reportedly launched 85 missiles just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the G20 summit in Bali.

    "Russia is hitting peaceful Ukrainian cities with deadly missiles," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted this afternoon, external.

    "Apartment buildings, energy infrastructure facilities are being hit. Looking forward to a principled reaction of G20 summit. Take the side of people, not war criminals."

  16. 'Our thoughts are with the brave Ukrainian people' - USpublished at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Firefighters work to extinguish the fire in a residential building that was hit during a Russian attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine, 15 November 2022Image source, Reuters

    The United States has strongly condemned Russia’s latest missile attacks against Ukraine, which are reported to have struck residential buildings in Kyiv and additional sites across the country.

    US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said the strikes will serve to only deepen the concerns among the G20 about the "destabilising impact of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war".

    "It is not lost on us that, as world leaders meet at the G20 in Bali to discuss the issues of significant importance to the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, Russia again threatens those lives and destroys Ukraine’s critical infrastructure," Sullivan said.

    "Our thoughts are with the brave Ukrainian people, who continue to demonstrate resilience and courage in their defence of their sovereignty and democracy."

    He said the US, its allies and its partners would continue to provide Ukraine with what it needed to defend itself, including air defence systems, adding the US would stand with Ukraine "for as long as it takes".

  17. Putin awards occupied cities 'hero' statuspublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    Wrecked apartment block, Mariupol, 8 Sep 22Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Russian shelling left much of Mariupol in ruins

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued decrees bestowing the status "City of Military Glory" on two Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities - Melitopol and Mariupol.

    It is a status similar to the Soviet-era "Hero City", which honoured certain cities' roles in the USSR's fight against Nazi Germany in World War Two. The status gave them certain privileges under communism, such as consumer goods in short supply elsewhere.

    Putin's decrees say the new status honours "the courage, steadfastness and mass heroism displayed by the defenders of the cities in the fight for the freedom and independence of the fatherland".

    It makes no mention of the current war in Ukraine, which Russia still calls a "special military operation".

    Russian state news agency Ria says 45 Russian cities have the status of City of Military Glory.

    In September, Putin declared four occupied regions of Ukraine, including the cities of Melitopol and Mariupol, to be part of Russia. The claim was widely condemned. Russian shelling devastated Mariupol, killing thousands, before the city was captured.

    Putin has also given two smaller Russian-occupied Ukrainian cities - Luhansk and Horlivka - the status "City of Labour Valour". It honours their hard industrial work during World War Two. He lists seven Russian cities alongside them.

    Ukraine map
  18. 'It’s unbelievable that something like this can happen in the 21st Century'published at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022

    VladImage source, Vlad

    Our colleagues at BBC Radio 5 Live have been speaking to Vlad in Kyiv.He's currently hiding from Russian bombs in his bathroom and says he is experiencing intermittent power cuts.“It’s unbelievable that something like this can happen in the 21st Century,” he says.

    “[Russian forces] are terrorists and they will do what they want. The only way to stop them is to hit them with force.”

  19. 85 missiles hit Ukraine, 20 more expected - Zelenskypublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022
    Breaking

    President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that 85 missiles were launched against Ukraine on Tuesday and 20 more are expected to hit the country.

    In a video shared on Telegram, he also warned residents to stay in shelters.

    The deputy head of the president's office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said the situation across the country was "critical" after missiles battered energy facilities, forcing emergency shutdowns and plunging parts of Kyiv into darkness.

    "Russian terrorists carried out another planned attack on energy infrastructure facilities," he said.

    The situation in the capital Kyiv was, he added, "extremely difficult".

  20. One death confirmed after Russian missile strikes on Kyivpublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2022
    Breaking

    At least one person has been killed by a Russian missile strike on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko has said.

    Rescuers retrieved a body from a residential building hit in the central Pechersk district, Klitschko said on Telegram.

    Search-and-rescue operations continued, he added.