Russia Launches Major Overnight Strikes on Ukraine, Killing at Least 20; Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets
Russia launched a large-scale overnight missile and drone attack across Ukraine, with officials reporting that at least 20 people were killed in strikes that hit several cities, including the capital, Kyiv.
In Kyiv, authorities said an Iskander-M ballistic missile struck a residential building, causing extensive destruction and leaving multiple people dead and injured. Emergency crews worked through the night to search the rubble for survivors as rescue operations continued.
The attacks also heavily impacted the western city of Lviv, near Ukraine’s border with Poland. Local officials reported that around 10 people were killed and approximately 30 others were injured after Russian strikes hit the city, making it one of the deadliest locations targeted during the overnight assault.
The scale of the attacks prompted neighboring Poland to scramble fighter aircraft and place its air defense systems on heightened alert. Polish military authorities said the move was taken to protect the country’s airspace as Russian missiles and drones were operating close to the NATO member’s border. Polish officials also reported that missile debris fell inside Polish territory, though no injuries or significant damage were reported.
The strikes came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to Kyiv following a visit to the United States, adding to the significance of the timing of the attack.
The latest bombardment underscores the continuing intensity of the war, with Russia maintaining long-range missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities while neighboring NATO countries remain on alert over the risk of spillover from the conflict.