Poland says attack near Polish border aimed at creating panic, Dutch foreign fighters among victims
11382 Mins Read
WARSAW, March 14 (Reuters) – A Russian attack on a large Ukrainian base near the border with NATO member Poland was aimed at creating panic among the civilian population, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday, a day after the attack which killed 35 people.
“A missile attack just 20 km from our border shows how Russia operates. (Russia) wants to create panic among the civilian population,” Morawiecki said at a joint media conference with his counterparts from Ukraine and Lithuania.
An unknown number of Dutch citizens were injured on Sunday after Russian forces attacked a military base in Yavoriv, Ukraine.
About 30 missiles were fired at the training camp outside of Lviv killing at least 35 people and injuring many others. The camp is less than 25 kilometers from the border with Poland.
Gert Snitselaar, who coordinates the Dutch members of the Foreign Legion, told the Telegraaf and AD that it was clear Dutch people were killed in the attack. He did not want to offer a specific number just yet for fear of a disinformation campaign. “I was in contact with a few this morning, but since then there has been no communication,” he told AD.
“This morning I had contact via WhatsApp with some volunteers on the base who reported to me that there are also injured among the Dutch,” he confirmed to Telegraaf. The governor of Lviv said that 134 people were hurt. Previous estimates suggested nine deaths and 57 wounded.
Before reports of Dutch injuries surfaced, Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sunday said that Russia’s attack on a military training center near the Polish border is extremely worrying. The prime minister was a guest on the television program WNL op Zondag, along with NATO Military Committee chairman Admiral Rob Bauer, who called the attack a “clear signal” to the West.
Photo – Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki . EPA-EFE/PIOTR NOWAK POLAND OUT
