Russia unleashed a wave of missiles and drones on Ukraine overnight, triggering air raid alerts across the country and prompting NATO member Poland to scramble aircraft for safety. Poland’s military confirmed that allied fighter jets were patrolling its skies, while air defence and radar systems were placed on the highest level of readiness. The heightened alert reflected growing fears of spillover after repeated drone incursions in Eastern Europe in recent months.
In western Ukraine, the city of Lviv faced intense bombardment as air defence units engaged both drones and missiles. Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said parts of the city were left without electricity, while public transport remained suspended due to safety risks. Residents were warned to avoid going outdoors as explosions and anti-aircraft fire echoed across neighborhoods. Witnesses described continuous pounding from all directions, underscoring the intensity of Russia’s overnight assault near the Polish border.
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Elsewhere, in the frontline city of Zaporizhzhia, Russian strikes caused significant damage late Saturday night. Regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported one death and nine injuries, with residential buildings, cars, and yards severely damaged. Over 73,000 households in the region were left without power following the attacks. The strikes added to fears over the nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been disconnected from external electricity since late September, heightening concerns about nuclear safety.
Poland’s heightened military readiness came after earlier drone incidents in its airspace raised alarms across NATO. In September, Poland shot down suspected Russian drones, while unexplained air incursions in Copenhagen and Munich caused major disruptions in European aviation. On Saturday night, Lithuania even closed Vilnius airport for several hours after reports of balloons possibly approaching the facility. These incidents highlight the regional risks created by Moscow’s air campaigns.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Force issued urgent alerts overnight, warning that the entire nation was under threat of attack. The strikes underscored Russia’s ongoing strategy of targeting infrastructure crucial to Ukraine’s war effort, including power grids and transport systems. The UN’s nuclear watchdog has urged both Moscow and Kyiv to show “political will” to secure the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s largest, but with no immediate comment from Russia on the latest attacks, the danger remains unresolved.