Explosions rocked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities early on Sunday as a Russian missile assault unfolded, prompting Poland to scramble its air force in response. The attack involved a mix of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, targeting sites across western Ukraine. Poland, a NATO member, activated its air defense systems and deployed fighter jets, as it raised the highest state of alert for its ground-based air defense and radar systems.
Blasts were reported in Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia and the Black Sea port of Odesa, with air raid sirens sounding nationwide. Ukrainian officials confirmed that a number of regions, including the capital Kyiv, had their power cut off as a precautionary measure. The scale and full extent of the attack remain unclear, but Ukrainian air forces warned residents to take cover as missiles flew through Ukrainian airspace.
This missile strike followed an overnight drone attack on Kyiv, which caused a residential building to catch fire, injuring at least one person. Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, according to Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Ukraine has been on high alert for weeks, bracing for intensified Russian missile attacks as winter approaches. In the past, Russian assaults have targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages across the country.
