The fear of WW3 has been something of a constant threat in 2025 and things might have just reached a boiling point.
In the last few months alone, we've seen Donald Trump's peace talks with Vladimir Putin come to an impasse, while the US president also confirmed in the summer that he'd taken the decision to bomb Iran.
Despite hopes for a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, Putin shows very few signs of stopping, and he's also tested NATO's resolve with a number of actions, including violating Estonia's airspace and sending drones into Poland, which were subsequently shot down.
Russia's latest attacks saw around 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones launched into Ukraine, killing at least three people and injuring dozens of others.
Advert
The BBC reports that hundreds of thousands of people have also been left without power as missiles targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv and several other regions.
According to Russia's defence ministry, it launched 'a massive strike... against Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises and the energy facilities that support their operation'.
In the wake of the attacks, which plunged the Ukrainian capital into darkness, Poland has responded by setting up military airplanes to patrol regions close to the Ukrainian border.
"In connection with the attack by the Russian Federation, which is carrying out strikes on facilities located on the territory of Ukraine, military aviation is operating in Polish airspace," a statement from Warsaw’s operational headquarters said.
Advert
It continued: "In accordance with the applicable procedures, the Operational Commander of the Armed Forces has activated the necessary forces and resources at his disposal. Fighter jets have been scrambled, and ground-based air defense systems as well as radar reconnaissance systems have reached readiness status.
"These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and its protection, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened regions.
"The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and the subordinate forces and resources remain ready for immediate response."
Advert
Russia's strikes on Ukraine came just hours after it lost two oil tankers of its own after Ukraine had allegedly used drones to explode them while in the open Black Sea.
Ukraine also succeeded in engulfing a major Russian drone battery production plant in Russia’s Tatarstan region, which suggests that it may be some time until a ceasefire is agreed, let alone a significant peace deal.
Meanwhile, Putin has made it clear that Russia would only halt its offensive should Ukraine's troops withdraw from territory which has been claimed by Moscow, while the two countries continue to dispute over the region of Donbas.
Topics: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine, Russia
James Moorhouse