NATO member Poland scrambled fighter jets to patrol its border regions after Russia launched one of the most devastating attacks on Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The brutal overnight assault on November 29 left at least three people dead and fifteen wounded, with women and children among the casualties. The Russian offensive plunged large parts of the Ukrainian capital into darkness and severed water supplies to residents.
Infrastructure Targeted in Deliberate Assault
Russian forces employed Tu-95MS strategic bomber aircraft alongside missiles and drones to systematically target key electricity infrastructure and residential buildings. The coordinated strikes appeared designed to maximise civilian suffering and undermine Ukrainian morale.
Emergency services worked through the night to pull bodies from the rubble of destroyed apartment blocks, while firefighters battled blazes at a postal warehouse and other facilities. The entire west bank of Kyiv was left without power, creating chaos in the early morning hours.
NATO Response and Regional Security
In response to the escalating violence, Polish military authorities activated their air defence systems and scrambled fighter jets to secure airspace near the Ukrainian border. Warsaw's operational headquarters confirmed the deployment was "preventive in nature" and aimed at protecting Polish territory.
The statement clarified: "In connection with the attack by the Russian Federation, which is carrying out strikes on facilities located on the territory of Ukraine, military aviation is operating in Polish airspace. The Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces has activated the necessary forces and resources at his disposal."
Wider Conflict Developments
The massive assault on Kyiv came hours after Ukrainian forces struck back, targeting two Russian shadow oil fleet tankers in the Black Sea. Both vessels were reportedly engulfed in flames following drone explosions.
Simultaneously, a major fire broke out at a Russian drone battery production plant in Alabuga, located in Russia's Tatarstan region. While the cause remains unconfirmed, the timing suggests possible Ukrainian retaliation.
Meanwhile, top Ukrainian officials are preparing for crucial peace talks, with plans to meet Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Miami before potential negotiations with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin next week.
The diplomatic efforts occur against a backdrop of political tension in Kyiv, following the resignation of former presidential office head Andriy Yermak amid corruption allegations. Yermak has vowed to join frontline forces, claiming his reputation has been "desecrated" without proper protection of his dignity.
