Nato jets scrambled as Putin blitzes Ukraine with massive missile and drone barrage killing 12 & wounding 34

NATO jets have been scrambled after Vladimir Putin unleashed a terrifying blitz on Ukraine, killing at least 13 and injuring another 40. A children’s hospital and several apartment blocks were set ablaze in the “massive” and orchestrated blitz on Kyiv which saw over 70 missiles – including hypersonics – launched. An explosion in Kyiv during a Russian missile strike barrage Credit: Reuters A man carrying a dog walks past damaged burned-out vehicles and debris following an overnight Russian attack on Kyiv Credit: Getty A burning building at the site of a Russian strike in Kyiv Credit: AFP Smoke rises over Ukraine’s capital Credit: Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the seven-hour overnight blitz as a “massive attack”. He said: “Our emergency services have been working throughout the night at the sites of Russian strikes. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “The attack was massive – the Russians prepared for a long time and combined different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to inflict as much damage as possible on civilian infrastructure.” The severity of the attack sparked Poland and Romania to scramble warplanes in response. 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.” In Romania, a suspected Russian drone again crashed in the Nato territory. Two Spanish F-18 aircraft and a Romanian helicopter were deployed to protect the border. Russia claimed its onslaught targeted Ukrainian missile and drone plants, logistics hubs, and railways. Most read in The Sun Smoke rises from a food warehouse hit by a Russian missile strike Credit: Reuters Air raid alerts in the dead of night caused panic among Kyiv residents as they rushed to take refuge in underground metro stations Credit: AP The Kremlin said Fire Point, a company that makes Ukrainian drones and Flamingo cruise missiles, was hit. Ukraine hit back by saying civilian areas were mainly struck. Huge strikes crashed down in the vicinity of Kyiv’s main airport at Boryspil. Dozens of homes and apartment blocks were also left in ruins with people being pulled from the rubble. Air raid alerts in the dead of night caused panic among Kyiv residents as they rushed to take refuge in underground metro stations. Some 90,000 residents were left without power. Ukrainian war commentator Denys Kazanskyi said of the attacks: “As usual, the Russians fired ballistic missiles indiscriminately – at streets, courtyards, residential buildings, and warehouses.” Ukraine struck back with strikes of their own. In Nizhnekamsk, an oil refinery was attacked and across in occupied Crimea a total blackout was felt after hits on power plants. A fuel terminal and power station were also blasted in Krasnodar region. The Russian Defence Ministry is yet to comment on the strikes but did say the military shot down 726 Ukrainian drones overnight. 2 comments2