**Norway Strengthens Defense of Key Airport in Poland, Aiding Ukraine**
In a move to bolster NATO’s air and missile defense, Norway will send F-35 fighter jets to Poland this fall. The planes will be stationed at the Rzeszow-Yasenka airport, which serves as one of the main transportation hubs for NATO military aid to Ukraine.
This development comes as Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities, launching a record number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) per night. With this new addition, Norway is strengthening its contribution to NATO’s air and missile defense, with the primary goal being to protect Polish airspace and a key logistics center for aid to Ukraine.
“This is a vital contribution,” said Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik. “We are helping ensure that support to Ukraine reaches its destination, and that Ukraine can continue its fight for freedom.”
The Rzeszow-Jasionka airport is strategically located just 62 miles from the Ukrainian border and transports a significant percentage of Western aid bound for the front lines in Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stated that by November 2024, 90% of aid to Ukraine was going through this airport.
**Increased Protection for Key Airport**
Germany had already announced plans to deploy Patriot air defenses around the Polish airport to protect it. The move is part of a broader effort to ensure the safe transport of military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian troops have recently made gains near the village of Oleksiivka and liberated the village of Andriivka.
The escalation in Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including a mass missile and drone attack that killed 30 people and injured 172 others, has heightened concerns about the need for increased protection for key infrastructure like the Rzeszow-Yasenka airport.
**Global Developments**
In related news, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated during his visit to Kyiv that Germany is working with its defense industry, European allies, and the United States to urgently secure more systems for Ukraine’s air shield. Ukrainian air defenses have hit 74 out of 107 drones launched by Russia overnight.
The Kremlin has noted that the pace of negotiations hinges on Ukraine’s position, the effectiveness of U.S. mediation, and battlefield developments. The international community continues to monitor these developments closely.
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