NATO scrambles warplanes as Putin launches attack near European country's border

NATO scrambled warplanes last night as Vladimir Putin unleashed hypersonic missiles and kamikaze drones in the heaviest assault of the war on Ukraine so far.

Kyiv revealed there were a total of 741 strikes on Ukrainian territory by the Russian armed forces, a record for the 40-month conflict. This involved 728 drone strikes, mainly Iranian-designed Shaheds, seven Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles, and six Kinzhal - or Dagger - hypersonic missiles. Key targets of the massive bombardment were Lutsk and Ternopil in the west of Ukraine, which triggered an emergency response from NATO forces in neighbouring Poland. Both Polish and other Western air force warplanes were scrambled as a defensive measure during Putin's strikes. “In connection with the attack by the Russian Federation's air forces carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in Polish airspace,” said a statement from Warsaw’s armed forces command.

“All available forces and resources at the disposal of the Operational Commander of the [Armed Forces] were activated. Duty fighter pairs were scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems reached the highest state of readiness. The measures taken are aimed at ensuring security in areas bordering the threatened areas.”

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Of the total of 718 incoming strikes, 303 were destroyed and 415 misfired or were lost including due to electronic warfare - an astonishing success for Ukrainian air defences.

Some 296 drones were shot down as were all seven Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles in a significant blow to Putin’s firepower. “The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defence Forces of Ukraine,” said an official statement. The Russian blitzkrieg used a third more drones and missiles than the previous record.

The enormous Russian onslaught came after Donald Trump had promised additional air defence missile supplies to Ukraine, as he again rebuked Putin for failing to agree a ceasefire.

“A lot of people are dying and it should end,” said the US president. We get a lot of bull**** thrown at us by Putin. You want to know the truth? He’s very nice all the time but it turns out to be meaningless.”

Lutsk suffered its worst attacks of the war, including the use of Kinzhal - or Dagger -hypersonic missiles fired from MiG-31K fighters. Putin also used his Tu-95MS strategic bombers to unleash Iskander-K and Kh-101 cruise missiles on Ukrainian targets.

The Lutsk mayor Ihor Polishchuk said: “Today was the most mass enemy attack with the use of UAVs and missiles on our city and community.”

There was damage and raging fires, he said: “Fortunately, at this minute there is no information about the dead as a result of the enemy attack. Let's give thanks to God! Our honour, respect and gratitude to the Air Defence Forces.”

Kyiv was hit by explosions with a fireball exploding in one strike. Warehouses caught fire in Kyiv region as a result of a Russian missile and drone attack. Zhytomyr was also hit by hypersonic missiles, said reports.

Ukraine hit Russia with more limited strikes overnight, but they led to new temporary closures of at least two Moscow airports - Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo. Explosions were heard in Zelenograd near Moscow, and in Tula.

Ukraine also struck military targets in Rylsk, in Kursk border region, with the Russians reporting two women injured. In Kursk city, regional governor Alexander Khinshtein said three people had died and seven were wounded at a beach.

Among the wounded was a five-year-old boy who shielded his mother during an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said the Russian media. “A vile, inhumane attack by Ukrainian criminals,” posted Khinshtein.

“Late in the evening, on a holiday, the enemy deliberately struck a place where civilians were.” There was no independent verification of his claims, but one report said a Russian national guardsman was among the dead.

According to CNN, Trump earlier threatened Putin with bombing Moscow if he entered Ukraine. The US president has regularly claimed that Putin would not have invaded if he had been president when it happened in 2022.

“With Putin I said, 'If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the sh*t out of Moscow. I'm telling you I have no choice’,” Trump reportedly said during a 2024 fundraiser, according to audio obtained by the broadcaster. "And then [Putin] goes, like, 'I don't believe you.' But he believed me 10%.” This was enough to stop Putin going ahead with an invasion, he indicated.