NATO jets scrambled after Russia launches Boxing Day attack intensifying WW3 fears

NATO jets were scrambled in the early hours of Boxing Day in response to the latest attacks from Russia on Ukraine.

Russia has rejected offers for a 'Christmas truce' with Ukraine over the festive period, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy supporting the idea of one and suggesting that energy infrastructure in particular could be spared from attacks.

Instead, Russia rejected the offer and said they didn't want to give Ukraine 'breathing space', so for Christmas they got UK-made Storm Shadow missiles fired by the Ukrainian military, which caused 'numerous explosions' at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery.

Now, the Romanian Ministry of Defence warned that at 1:05am local time on 26 December they had to scramble fighter jets to monitor the skies due to Russia's latest attack on Ukraine.

They said in a statement: "On the night of December 25 to 26, at 1:05 a.m., two F-16 fighter jets from the 86th Air Base in Fetești were taken into the air to monitor the air situation in the border area with Ukraine, in the north of Tulcea County.

A pair of F-16 fighter jets were scrambled in the early hours of Boxing Day (Nicolas AGUILERA / AFP via Getty Images)

"The aerial surveillance system of the Ministry of National Defense has identified groups of drones launched by the Russian Federation towards Ukrainian ports on the Danube."

People living in the northern part of Tulcea County received an air raid warning at 1:23am local time this morning, though no Russian drones crossed into Romanian airspace from Ukraine, and the fighter jets returned to base at 3:15am.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan has previously said that Romania, which is a NATO country, is prepared to shoot down any Russian drones which cross from neighbouring Ukraine and fly into his country's airspace.

The Ukrainian region of Odesa Oblast, which borders Romania and Moldova, was targeted by drone attacks overnight as officials said that Russia had been targeting their ports and energy infrastructure.

Russian drones have, on multiple occasions, flown into the airspace of countries other than the one they have invaded.

Russian weapons keep violating the airspace over NATO countries (Contributor/Getty Images)

NATO jets have had to be scrambled in the past in response to these incursions, while some of those which flew over Poland were shot down.

For countries bordering Ukraine, weapons fired by Russia straying into their airspace or leaving debris on their lands is a real and consistent concern.

Attempts to broker a peace deal and stop Putin's invasion of Ukraine are ongoing, with various plans being discussed via the US and many points of contention over territory still to be resolved.

Ukraine is seeking security guarantees so it cannot be invaded again and EU membership, while Russia is demanding that it cede territory it does not currently occupy.