Ukraine’s military has reported large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks across the country, including the capital Kyiv.
Local authorities confirmed explosions in the Northwestern city of Lutsk, where an apartment block was damaged.
Regional officials stated that at least three people were killed in the attacks on August 26, with casualties reported in Lutsk in the West, Dnipro in the East and in the Southern Zaporizhzhia regions.
The Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said on X that Polish and allied aircraft had been activated after Russia launched the attack which also targeted regions in Ukraine‘s West and near the Polish border.
Ukrainians have been expecting a major Russian missile attack for some time. The US embassy issued a warning of an elevated risk of attack around Ukrainian Independence Day, which Ukraine marked on August 24.
Ukraine has itself stepped up its own long-range drone attacks on Russia to try hit back at Moscow.
“The desire to destroy our energy will cost the Russians dearly: their infrastructure,” Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, said on Telegram.
Up to 10 drones were destroyed on their approach to Kyiv, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said, also on Telegram.
There was no immediate comment from Russia. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians. Each says its attacks are aimed at destroying infrastructure key to the other’s war effort.
