For more than a year, U.S. warships have shot down Houthi drones and missiles, but the rebels continue to menace shipping in the Red Sea.

"Our position and the position of our allies is clear,” said Kukuła. “We will not do this. Today, our responsibility for the defense of the airspace of our allies is determined by our borders." Read also: NATO may discuss intercepting Russian missiles over Ukraine next week — Sikorski However,

By Pavel Polityuk and Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -Blasts boomed across Kyiv on Wednesday morning after officials said Russia launched its first missile attack on the Ukrainian capital since August,

Russia escalated its attacks on Kyiv early Wednesday, launching waves of drones and missiles in its first combined aerial assault on the capital in more than 70 days, authorities said.The broadside came as Washington and Seoul echoed warnings from Ukraine that North Korean troops had begun "engaging in combat operations" alongside Russian forces on the border between the warring countries.

Experts warn that Russia may be trying to deplete Ukraine's air defences in preparation for an attack on its energy system over the winter. Ukraine has also increased its use of long-range drones in recent weeks,

The pre-dawn barrage sent explosions echoing across Kyiv and saw residents seeking shelter in an underground metro station

Headlights illuminate a group of soldiers smoking and drinking steaming cups of coffee on the side of a road in northeastern Ukraine.