Air strikes close to Poland give an insight into Putin’s thinking

THE past week has seen two Russian missile strikes in western Ukraine, close to the Polish frontier. There is every likelihood of more to come.

Strategically, these attacks were designed to alarm and deter the more nervous members of Nato, horrified at being pulled into a wider war.

This has worked, but the strikes – on a military base at Yavoriv, 15 miles from Poland, and a hangar at Lviv airport – had another objective, too.

Russia is clearly hurting from the flow of anti-tank missiles and air-defence rockets into Ukraine.

There are already more

Western anti-tank systems in the hands of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s lions than Russia has armoured vehicles in its “special military operation”.

The west of Ukraine is also in the crosshairs because it has no Russian origins.with its capital Lviv – Lemberg to Austrians and Germans – the region was part of Austriahungary for centuries and latterly Polish. Many adhere to Roman Catholicism rather than an Orthodox faith.

Itswestern-looking culture is despised by Putin, who does not mind inflicting damage on this “outpost of the EU” while trying to interrupt the supply of munitions sent in from outside.

Moscow does not know the exact routes the munitions take but, in targetingyavoriv and Lviv, is taking a guess as to where the storage and training facilities might be.

These rocket attacks also illustrate why a no-fly zone will not work.

The first batch of cruise missiles launched on Yavoriv were released from within Russian airspace, and the second, at Lviv, came from the Black Sea. Both are outside the area of any proposed no-fly zone.

Advocates of a no-fly zone overlook the fact that Mr Zelensky has asked for one knowing he will not get it.

Such a request might be summarised as good negotiation tactics. Ask for the moon and you will end up getting something worthwhile.

Nato, or whoever was to enforce the no-fly zone, would be obliged to shoot down anything in the sky yet Russia’s armour and artillery could still manoeuvre, unimpeded.

This is simply not going to happen, unless part of a wider peace plan in future months.