NATO dispatched warplanes overnight in response to Vladimir Putin launching hypersonic missiles and kamikaze drones in the most intense attacks of the war on Ukraine.
It comes after raging Donald Trump slammed the tyrant for talking “bull****” about the Ukraine war and making “meaningless” promises.
Kyiv revealed there were a total of 741 strikes on Ukrainian territory by the Russian armed forces, a record for the 40-month conflict.
This assault comprised 728 drone strikes, primarily with Iranian-designed Shaheds, along with seven Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles, and six Kinzhal – or Dagger – hypersonic missiles.
Lutsk and Ternopil in western Ukraine were major targets of the large-scale bombardment, prompting an urgent reaction from NATO forces in neighboring Poland.
Both Polish and other Western air force warplanes were scrambled as a defensive measure during the Putin strikes.
“In connection with the attack by the Russian Federation’s air forces carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in Polish airspace,” said a statement from Warsaw’s armed forces command.
“All available forces and resources at the disposal of the Operational Commander of the [Armed Forces] were activated.
“Duty fighter pairs were scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems reached the highest state of readiness…..
“The measures taken are aimed at ensuring security in areas bordering the threatened areas.”
The enormous Russian onslaught came after Trump vowed to send more weapons to Ukraine as he appears to be growing increasingly frustrated with the Russian tyrant.
“We get a lot of bull**** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump told reporters during a televised cabinet meeting at the White House.
“He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Trump reiterated that he was “very unhappy” with Putin since their phone call last week made no progress on the Ukraine peace deal – something the US president has pushed for since returning to power.
But Putin has snubbed peace and is instead steadily increasing his overnight bombing raids – which could soon hit 1,000 a day.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin’s record strike on Ukraine had failed due to his air defences, including new “interceptor drones” which stunted the Russian attack.
“Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones were used – there are dozens of hits, we are scaling up the technology,” he said.
“Mobile fire groups were also working – we also had dozens of hits. Thank you to all the soldiers for their accuracy.”
A total of 718 incoming strikes were destroyed – some 303 – or misfired and were lost including due to electronic warfare, some 415, an astonishing success for Ukrainian air defences.
Some 296 drones were shot down as were all seven Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles in a significant blow to Putin’s firepower.
Lutsk suffered its worst attacks of the war, including the use of Kinzhal – or Dagger -hypersonic missiles fired from MiG-31K fighters.
Kyiv was hit by explosions with a fireball exploding in one strike.
Warehouses caught fire in Kyiv region as a result of a Russian missile and drone attack.
Zhytomyr was also hit by hypersonic missiles, said reports.
Ukraine hit Russia with more limited strikes overnight, but they led to new temporary closures of at least two Moscow airports – Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo.
Explosions were heard in Zelenograd near Moscow, and in Tula.
Ukraine also struck military targets in Rylsk, in Kursk border region, with the Russians reporting two women injured.
In Kursk city, regional governor Alexander Khinshtein said three people had died and seven were wounded at a beach.
Among the wounded was a five-year-old boy who shielded his mother during an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said the Russian media.
“A vile, inhumane attack by Ukrainian criminals,” posted Khinshtein.
“Late in the evening, on a holiday, the enemy deliberately struck a place where civilians were.”
There was no independent verification of his claims, but one report said a Russian national guardsman was among the dead.
