Russia Targets Ukrainian Base Housing Foreign Fighters

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Russia hit Ukraine’s Yavoriv military complex with dozens of cruise missiles Sunday morning, killing 35. The New York Times reports the facility is being used to coordinate and train foreign fighters entering Ukraine. The US condemned the attack on the base located just miles from the Polish border.

Later in the day, national security adviser Jake Sullivan appeared on “Face the Nation,” warning that if Russian strikes hit a NATO nation, “the full force of the NATO alliance to bear in responding to it.” Sullivan said Putin had ordered the strikes near the Polish border out of “frustration” that his invasion had been slowed.

Moscow claims it used “long-range high-precision weapons” to kill up to 180 “foreign mercenaries” and destroy “a large cache of foreign weapons.” Since invading, the Kremin has issued threats against foreign fighters and weapons entering Ukraine.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that at least 16,000 people are making their way to his country to enlist in the fight against Russia. According to a Ukrainian official, the base – also known as the International Peacekeeping and Security Center – is currently housing up to 1,000 foreign fighters. A journalist familiar with the facility says the areas of the buildings targeted by Russia had housed American and Canadian military trainers.

There are no reports yet on the nationalities of those killed by the Russian attack. According to Keiv, in addition to the 35 dead, at least 130 were injured.

* Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.

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