Nato jets scramble as Russia launches huge drone attack
NATO warplanes were scrambled yesterday amid a massive Russian missile and kamikaze drone attack on Ukraine – destroying a major power plant near the capital.
The planes took to the skies to defend the alliance’s eastern flank over Poland as tensions with Moscow hit a new high.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said around 40 missiles and 40 drones had been fired at his country.
The power plant near Kyiv was completely destroyed by the Russian strikes. The Kremlin has long targeted its energy sites.
Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv suffered 15 strikes causing outages and halting underground trains. The southern port Odesa was also hit. It was the second time in recent weeks that Nato aircraft were scrambled over the Polish border as rockets rained down on its neighbour.
Warsaw’s armed forces said: “Polish and allied aircraft operate in the airspace. Intense long-range aviation activity of the Russian Federation is observed tonight, due to rocket strikes on objects on Ukrainian territory.
“All necessary procedures aimed at ensuring the safety of Polish airspace have been launched.”
Trypillya power plant near Kyiv was the largest provider of electricity for three regions, including the capital.
Centrenergo chairman Andriy Hota told the BBC the strikes destroyed “the transformer, the turbines, the generators. They
Terror
destroyed 100%”.
“The scale of destruction is terrifying,”
A fire broke out in the turbine workshop of the plant 31 miles south of Kyiv after multiple missile strikes. Staff fled as soon as the first drone hit.
President Zelensky said: “Overnight, Russia fired more than forty missiles and about forty drones at Ukraine. Russian terrorists have once again targeted critical infrastructure.”
And Mr Zelensky pleaded for allies to boost its defences.
He said: “All of our European neighbours and other partners see Ukraine’s critical need for air defence systems.
“If Russia is allowed to continue to strike not only Ukraine but also the resolve of our allies, this will amount to a global license for terror.”
The Russian assault involved Tu-95MS bombers from Murmansk.