In the early hours of Sunday, NATO fighter jets were rapidly deployed in Poland following a substantial Russian drone and missile assault on Ukraine. The Polish Operational Command announced the response, which involved activating air defense units and scrambling fighter jets, as measures to secure Polish airspace and protect citizens nearby the affected areas in Ukraine.
The preventive actions included the deployment of Dutch F-35 stealth fighters and a German Patriot surface-to-air missile system. Airspace over regions near the Ukrainian border, specifically Lublin and Rzeszow, was briefly closed before Poland declared the situational alert ended after about three and a half hours, with no incursions reported into Polish airspace.
During the attacks, Kyiv was the main target, alongside other locations such as Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Odesa. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the attacks lasted over 12 hours. Ukraine’s air force reported the unprecedented assault involved 593 drones and 50 missiles—the largest combined attack since early September. Impressively, the Ukrainian defense successfully neutralized or suppressed a majority of these threats.
Unfortunately, the attacks led to the tragic loss of at least four lives, including a 12-year-old girl, and left numerous others injured. Significant damage included multi-story residential buildings and essential facilities in Kyiv and other affected cities. Officials noted that the strike also devastated infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia, where severe damage was inflicted on various structures, impacting the daily lives of residents.
As these events unfolded, Ukrainian officials continued to emphasize the need for international support and heightened measures against Russia, particularly targeting its energy export sector. Zelenskyy reiterated the call for global leaders, including those from the U.S., Europe, G7, and G20, to apply rigorous pressure on Moscow.
Meanwhile, in Russia, security measures included the temporary imposition of flight restrictions at several airports, including those in Moscow and other cities, reflecting the broader scope of rising tensions and defensive posturing on both sides.
This escalation highlights the ongoing volatility of the conflict, emphasizing the critical need for continued diplomatic efforts to address the persistent discord and safeguard regional stability.