NATO warplanes were scrambled on Ukraine’s borders overnight amid savage new strikes by Russia, killing at least 15 in Kyiv during raids in which an American citizen, 62, died. Rescuers were sifting through the rubble of residential apartment blocks hit by Vladimir Putin’s forces.
The death toll is expected to rise following the missile and kamikaze drone strikes, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as “pure terrorism”. Bodies were seen in the streets, and a harrowing video shows a weeping couple over their son trapped under an exploded building in the Putin strikes, not knowing if he is dead or alive. In the capital, 99 were wounded, with 59 hospitalised.
Another person was killed and 13 were wounded in Russian strikes on the Black Sea port of Odesa.
Thick black smoke wafted across the Ukrainian capital after one of the most punishing nights of the war, with residents claiming it was “hard to breathe”.
Thick smoke came from Zhuliany airport, where Russian sources claimed to have hit US-supplied Patriot air defence systems.
Poland’s military operational commander announced that NATO aircraft had been scrambled amid intense Russian strikes on neighbouring Ukraine.
He “activated all available forces and resources at his disposal, the on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness”.
A statement said: “The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.
“The Operational Command of the [armed forces] is monitoring the current situation, and the subordinate forces and resources remain in full readiness for immediate response.”
The air patrols lasted two hours due to the Putin strikes on Ukraine.
RAF Typhoons are stationed in Poland as part of a NATO mission protecting the alliance’s skies, although it is unclear whether the fighter jets were scrambled.
Earlier this month, the jets intercepted 15 Russian aircraft in just six days after being scrambled six times, representing the busiest period of the deployment so far.
In Kyiv, Russia was accused of “a deliberate strike on civilians”, with drones aimed at civilians, and the strikes not the result of falling debris from downed unmanned planes.
Footage showed a drone strike on a high-rise civilian residential tower.
War reporter Denis Kazansky said: “The strikes on residential buildings are not the result of air defence, but the result of targeted actions by the Russian military.”
A US citizen, 62, was killed in a house opposite where a Russian Shahed drone exploded, reported Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
A woman, 60, was found dead under rubble.
In Odesa, a centre for children with special needs was hit.
In Rivne, a factory was hit by the Russian strikes.
The Russian armed forces pummeled Ukraine with at least 175 drones, more than 14 cruise missiles, and at least two ballistic missiles.