Ukraine’s military said “hundreds” of aerial weapons were fired across the country while civilians slept. The wave of attacks triggered air raid sirens and forced people into shelters, as neighboring Poland scrambled fighter jets to secure its airspace in response.

“Russia launched another massive air attack on Ukrainian cities while people were sleeping,” Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X, posting video of flames pouring from a residential building. “Again, hundreds of drones and missiles, destroying residential buildings and causing civilian casualties.”

In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed six people were wounded in the strikes, five of whom were hospitalized. In the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, at least four additional injuries were reported.

“These are deliberate attacks on civilians,” said Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office. “There will be a response to these actions. But the West’s economic blows against Russia must also be stronger.”

In response to the air assault near its border, Poland’s armed forces said they deployed fighter jets and placed air defense systems on high alert as a precautionary measure to protect its airspace and citizens.

The incident follows several recent airspace violations reported by NATO members, which have accused Russia of deploying drones and jets over alliance territory. Russia has denied any such incursions, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warning NATO countries against hostile actions.

“Any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response,” Lavrov said during his address to the UN General Assembly in New York. Speaking to reporters afterward, he added, “If any country downs objects still within Russian airspace, they will very much regret it.”

Read Also: 15 killed, 75 injured in Russian attack on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also speaking after his return from New York, confirmed that a US-made Patriot air defense system supplied via Israel is now operational in Ukraine. He said two more systems are expected to arrive in the autumn.

While Israel initially maintained a neutral stance in the conflict, tensions with Russia have escalated due to Moscow’s growing ties with Iran and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Both Ukraine and Russia confirmed over the weekend that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian forces, has been disconnected from the national grid for the past four days. The outage has renewed concerns over a potential nuclear safety crisis.

Source: Punch