Kyiv: NATO jets were scrambled this week after Russia launched its largest drone attack yet on Ukraine, sending more than 700 unmanned aerial vehicles into Ukrainian airspace and prompting allied air forces to enter high alert. The unprecedented strike led Poland, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, to activate its defense systems.
“Ukrainian, Polish, and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace," the Polish military said in a statement, confirming that duty fighter jets were scrambled and ground-based air defense systems reached maximum readiness.
The drone barrage, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called a “new massive Russian attack," included 728 drones of various types, more than 300 of them Iranian-made Shaheds and 13 missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhals and Iskanders.
"Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones were used -- dozens of enemy targets were downed, and we are scaling up this technology. Mobile fire groups were also active - they downed dozens as well. I thank all our warriors for their precision," he was quoted as saying.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it was targeting Ukrainian air bases, asserting that “all designated targets were hit." Moscow also said 86 Ukrainian drones were shot down across six Russian regions, including near the capital.
Zelenskyy said damage was reported across 10 regions, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Dnipro.
Not happy with Putin: Trump
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said this week that he was not happy with Russian President Vladimir Putin and was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration over the growing death toll in Russia's war with Ukraine.
Trump said the US would have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after Washington paused critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv.
