Poland has taken significant steps to bolster its air defense as Russian forces unleashed a series of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, notably targeting the western city of Lviv. The Polish military confirmed that fighter jets were scrambled overnight to secure Polish airspace amid the escalating tensions.
Casualties and widespread disruptions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the attacks resulted in five fatalities nationwide. Four of these deaths occurred in Lviv, as confirmed by Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the region. Another victim was reported in Zaporizhzhia. Zelensky indicated that Russia launched over 50 missiles and approximately 500 drones aimed at critical infrastructure.
The regions of Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and Kirovohrad were also affected, intensifying concerns about the ongoing conflict. Zelensky emphasized the need for enhanced defense measures, stating,
“We need more protection and faster implementation of all defense agreements, especially on air defense, to deprive this aerial terror of any meaning.”
He suggested that a unilateral ceasefire might pave the way for genuine diplomatic negotiations.
Poland and NATO’s response
In response to the heightened threat, Polish and allied aircraft were placed on high alert. Poland’s operational command announced,
“Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness.”
At around 05:10 local time, all of Ukraine was placed under air raid alerts, as the Ukrainian Air Force warned of potential missile and drone strikes.
The assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has intensified, with Lviv’s mayor, Andriy Sadovyi, reporting power outages as the city’s air defense systems engaged in repelling attacks. By 07:30 local time, parts of Lviv remained without electricity, which delayed public transport operations. Sadovyi cautioned residents against venturing outdoors due to the dangerous conditions.
In Zaporizhzhia, the consequences of the overnight strikes were severe, leaving over 73,000 residents without power after a local power plant was hit. One individual was killed, and nine others were injured, including a 16-year-old girl, according to Ivan Fedorov, the regional governor. Photos from the site depicted significant damage to residential blocks and vehicles.
Public transport in Ivano-Frankivsk was also delayed, as the mayor informed residents that services would commence later than usual. The widespread missile threats prompted warnings across the country, with Ukraine’s Air Force alerting citizens to the ongoing risk of further attacks.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Russian forces have occupied a significant portion of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, including Luhansk and Donetsk. Presently, Russia controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, which includes the annexed Crimea.
In a related development, Russian state-owned media reported that air defense units had successfully intercepted 32 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ongoing international dialogue has also suggested that the United States may support Ukraine in conducting deep strikes within Russian territory, as articulated by US Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
In a separate incident, Lithuania closed its airspace temporarily after unidentified objects were detected, reminiscent of recent occurrences in Denmark, Norway, and Germany. Flights at Vilnius Airport were suspended for several hours before operations resumed early Sunday morning.