VLADIMIR Putin has unleashed another night of hell over Ukraine with a terrifying 500 missile and drone onslaught.

NATO had to urgently deploy its warplanes following one of the war’s most destructive nights, during which several Ukrainian cities were rocked by catastrophic explosions.

Putin mounted major attacks across much of Ukraine in what is reported to be one of the heaviest bombardments of the three year conflict so far.

Several cities were attacked by Putin’s forces with cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles and Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones simultaneously.

Four Kinzhal and seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles were also fired at Ukraine. 

Putin ordered his Tu-95 strategic bombers and MiG aircraft to carry out the heinous air assaults.

Yuriy Ihnat, the chief spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force, characterized the overnight assault as the largest aerial strike on the nation in three years.

Kremenchuk was among the hardest hit, enduring a major onslaught that ignited the city. Video footage revealed numerous daunting explosions illuminating the night sky.

A blast targeted an oil refinery with the video showing the attack turned the skies a crimson red overnight.

It is said to be the most powerful blitz on the city since the start of the war back in 2022. 

Kherson regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said that the blasts on the frontline city were deadly.

He claimed one person had died in a drone strike with another six people wounded in Cherkasy – including a child.

Elsewhere, a missile strike on Zaporizhzhia left an industrial facility on fire. 

Mykolaiv and Donetsk region were also both badly hit as the Russians targeted Lviv in western Ukraine as well.

Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian forces attempted to strike critical infrastructure, but no civilians or residential buildings were damaged.

Ukraine claimed to have downed 475 out of 537 aerial targets.

Poland’s operational command quickly announced that Nato fighter jets were scrambled because of the intensity of the Russian onslaught.

They said in a statement: “Due to the attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace.

“The Operational Commander of the [armed forces] has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal.

“The on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness.

“The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.”

It follows a team of German fighter jets who were dramatically scrambled to help intercept a Russian spy plane over the Baltic Sea on Friday.

Two Eurofighters roared into action on Friday after NATO radar spotted a Russian Il-20 with its transponder switched off.

The plane had taken off from Kaliningrad and was heading west toward Poland and Germany, according to Bild and The Kyiv Independent.