NATO was forced to scramble fighter jets overnight as Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine, prompting Poland to activate its air defence systems. The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command announced early on February 22 that Russian military activity in Ukraine had led to the deployment of duty fighter pairs, an early warning aircraft, and ground-based air defence and radar systems reaching the highest state of readiness.
The command stated on X that the measures were preventive, aimed at securing Polish airspace near threatened regions. The operation began at approximately 3am and concluded at 6am, with no violation of Polish airspace observed. The command confirmed that all systems had returned to standard operations.
The attack involved Zircon hypersonic missiles, Kh-22s, and Iskanders, along with drone swarms. Preliminary data indicated over 40 missiles were launched. Explosions were reported in Kyiv and Kropyvnytskyi, with a building fire in the Kyiv region and a house belonging to former Ukrainian parliamentary speaker Dmytro Razumkov struck.
In the Sumy region, four people were killed and one injured. Energy infrastructure in the Odesa region was hit as temperatures dropped to -12°C. In Lviv, a 23-year-old policewoman was killed and 24 people wounded. Tensions remain high between the West and Russia amid fears of further escalation.
