NATO fighter jets were scrambled in Poland and Romania overnight as Russia staged massive strikes on Kyiv. At least 12 people were killed and 34 wounded in a missile and drone onslaught on the Ukrainian capital, in some of the most intense strikes of the entire war, lasting more than seven hours.
Details of the Attack
A children's hospital and apartment blocks were damaged as a Russian source claimed to have hit Ukrainian missile and drone plants, logistics hubs, and railways. In the early morning, people were rescued from rubble as a woman was seen weeping over the body of a relative on a debris-strewn street.
NATO F-18s were scrambled when a suspected Russian drone that would have been involved in the attack crashed in Romania and burst into flames. Two Spanish F-18 aircraft and a Romanian helicopter were scrambled.
Official Statements
A statement from Romania's Ministry of National Defence said: "At 03.21, a drone entered [Romanian] airspace, approximately 13 kilometres [8 miles] east of the municipality of Galați." "At 03:24, the crew of the IAR-330 SOCAT helicopter reported that the target had fallen approximately 4 kilometres [2.5 miles] northeast of the town of Grindu, Tulcea County, in an unpopulated area. The impact of the aerial vehicle with the ground was followed by a fire that extinguished itself. No casualties or material damage were reported. A military team is moving to the impact site to secure the area."
The Operational Command of Poland's armed forces said: "Due to the activity of long-range Russian air forces conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory, military aviation has begun operating in Polish airspace." The statement added: "These operations are preventative in nature and are aimed at securing and protecting airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened areas."
Scale of the Onslaught
At least 70 Putin missiles - including hypersonic - were unleashed on Ukraine with Kyiv residents taking refuge in underground metro stations. A giant warehouse blaze led to thick black smoke rising high in the sky over a fuel depot in Brovary, Kyiv region. There were also huge strikes in the vicinity of Kyiv’s main airport at Boryspil. The scale of the onslaught with missiles unleashed from Tu-95MS strategic bombers showed Putin's fury at recent strikes by Ukraine deep inside Russia.
The State Emergency Service said: "Rescuers have pulled two people from the rubble and are continuing to clear the aftermath of last night's attack on the capital in the Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi, and Darnitsky districts." Russia claimed Fire Point - a company making Ukrainian drones and Flamingo cruise missiles - was hit while some 90,000 residents were left without power. Earlier, in a strike on Zhytomyr, two Ukrainian police officers were killed - Lt. Col. Yuliia Yevdokymova, 39, and Capt. Artem Zubchuk, 32, with 40 injured.
Reactions and Counterstrikes
Ukrainian war commentator Denys Kazanskyi said: “As usual, the Russians fired ballistic missiles indiscriminately - at streets, courtyards, residential buildings, and warehouses.” The massive attack came as Putin paradoxically gave a rare hint that he is planning for the end of his four-and-a-half year war in Ukraine. As he admitted his war was harming the Russian economy, he told businesses: "There's another issue that will arise - the return of our men from the line of contact after the end of the special military operation. There are many people, and they need to be employed, and they will come with healthy ambitions, and so on. This is serious work, for which we need to prepare in advance."
Ukraine struck back causing more damage to Putin’s creaking economy. In Nizhnekamsk, an oil refinery was attacked — with reports that 12 people were killed in a hostel for migrant workers. Occupied Crimea suffered a total blackout after hits on power plants. A fuel terminal and power station was hit in Krasnodar region, crucial to supplies to the Black Sea peninsula. The Russian Defence Ministry said 726 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight.
