NATO country scrambles fighter jets as Putin launches massive Kyiv attack

At least four people have been killed, including a 12-year-old girl, and more than 40 injured in Russia's latest drone and missile attack on Ukraine. The huge Kremlin strike happened over 12 hours and included more than 500 drone strikes and more than 40 missiles, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Neighbouring NATO country Poland closed the airspace of Lublin and Rzeszow, two cities close to the Ukraine border, and jets were scrambled in response to the chance of Russian drones crossing over into Polish territory.

The aerial assault this morning is one of the biggest attacks on Kyiv since Vladimir Putin's invasion began in February 2022. It's understood air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine as Moscow launched the strike around 6am this morning.

Many residents in Kyiv were able to take shelter in the city's subway system.

In a statement, Ukrainian President Zelensky said: "The massive Russian attack on Ukraine lasted for over 12 hours. Brutal strikes, deliberate and targeted terror against ordinary cities - nearly 500 strike drones and more than 40 missiles, including "Kinzhal". In the morning, Russian-Iranian "Shaheds" were again in our sky.

"The main directions of the enemy attack were Kyiv and the region, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, and Odesa regions. As a result of the shelling, the building of the Cardiology Institute in the capital was damaged. As of now, four people are known to have died in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old girl. My condolences to all relatives and loved ones. In total, at least 40 people are known to have been injured in Ukraine, including children."

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