NATO fighter jets and air defense units were put on high alert early Sunday following a major Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine, the Polish Operational Command said.
Dutch F-35 stealth fighters and a German Patriot missile system were deployed, and airspace near Lublin and Rzeszow was briefly closed. The alert ended after about three-and-a-half hours with no Polish airspace violations reported.
Largest Combined Strike Since Early September
Kyiv was the primary target of the overnight Russian strikes, with additional attacks reported in Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Odesa. Ukraine’s air force reported 593 drones and 50 missiles launched, making it the largest combined strike on Ukraine since Sept. 7. Defenders downed or suppressed 566 drones and 45 missiles, but five missiles and 31 drones still struck 16 locations.
Casualties and Damage
At least four people, including a 12-year-old girl, were killed in Kyiv, and 14 others were injured. Damage occurred at residential buildings, a medical facility, warehouses, private homes, cars, and a children’s educational center. In Zaporizhzhia, 31 people—including three children—were injured as high-rise apartments and other structures were set ablaze. Overall, Ukraine’s Interior Minister reported at least 70 injuries across the country.
Zelenskyy Calls for Stronger International Action
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the “cowardly” attacks, urging increased global measures to target Russia’s energy exports. He emphasized that Moscow “wants to continue fighting and killing” and called for a robust response from the U.S., Europe, G7, and G20.
Continued Tensions and Flight Restrictions
Russian authorities reported downing at least 41 Ukrainian drones and temporarily restricted flights at several airports, including Zhukovsky International in Moscow and others across the country. Ukrainian officials warned that the intensity of Russian attacks is expected to increase in the coming days.
For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.