Russia fires hundreds of drones at Ukraine in major attack as Poland scrambles aircraft

By Victoria Butenko, Kosta Gak, Chris Lau, CNN

Kyiv (CNN) — Russia fired nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles at Ukraine overnight, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – one of the largest waves of strikes in recent weeks.

At least four people were killed in Kyiv during the overnight attacks, Zelensky said, and 40 injured. Drones were still being shot down over the Ukrainian capital on Sunday morning.

The Ukrainian President said that the missile barrage included powerful Kinzhal cruise missiles.

“This vile attack took place practically as the UN General Assembly week was concluding, and this is exactly how Russia declares its real position.”

Amid the bombardment, Poland scrambled fighter jets in its airspace early Sunday, its armed forces said. Polish forces were already on alert after recent Russian drone incursions over its territory.

“These measures are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened areas,” Poland’s army said.

The Russian drone and missile attacks triggered air raid alerts across Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian Air Force data showed.

A haze of smoke from explosions could be seen lingering over the capital on Sunday morning, photos from a CNN producer showed, with the Russian attacks continuing as residents walked their dogs and ran their morning errands.

Residential buildings and infrastructure were struck, said Andriy Yermak, chief of staff for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a Telegram post. He called the Russian attacks a “war against civilians.”

A 12-year-old girl was among those killed in Kyiv, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration.

Vitali Klitschko, Kyiv’s mayor, said in a Telegram post that fallen debris partially damaged a five-story building in the city. A private house and a kindergarten were also damaged, he added.

Dozens of people were also wounded in the air attacks across Ukraine – primarily in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia – according to local officials.

A recent spate of suspected Russian incursions upon European nations’ airspace has frayed nerves on the continent, with Poland and Estonia pushing other NATO members to vow to meet such crossings with force.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any aggression against Moscow would meet a “decisive response,” speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, hours before Russia launched its latest air attacks on Ukraine.

Lavrov said Russia has been accused of planning to attack NATO and European Union countries, but that President Vladimir Putin has “repeatedly debunked these provocations.”

“Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions,” said Lavrov.

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