Russian forces have launched a major drone and missile air attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight, killing at least one person.
Several neighbourhoods were evacuated as airstrikes rocked buildings throughout the city, hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia was preparing for a “massive” attack.
Some people remain trapped under the rubble of a collapsed nine-storey building, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Poland has also activated its fighter jets to protect its airspace, with the country’s armed forces describing it as a “preventative” measure.
“These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened regions,” Poland’s military wrote on X., external
Poland is a member of Nato, a signatory to the military alliance’s Article 5 provision that states “an armed attack against one Nato member shall be considered an attack against them all”, though there are no reports of attacks on Polish territory.
In Kyiv, tracer fire from air defence systems could be spotted lighting up the night sky, and explosions from drones, cruise and ballistic missiles were heard.
Multiple fires have broken out across the city and damage was reported at an ambulance station in the city, which left at least one person critically injured.
He added the number of people injured had risen to 11 from an initial tally of six.
The overnight air raid is the first major attack on the Ukrainian capital in more than two weeks.
Earlier, Zelensky cut short his visit to Dublin after he said fresh intelligence had emerged suggesting that Moscow was planning to strike Kyiv.
