Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 13; Poland scrambles fighter jets

Russian air strikes killed at least 13 people across Ukraine on Thursday, with attacks reaching as far west as Lviv and prompting Poland to scramble fighter jets. Air raid alerts sounded across most of Ukraine, and explosions were heard in Kyiv, where non-residential sites caught fire.

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It is important that our partners fully understand what is happening and that the protection of people’s lives depends directly on their willingness.

In the capital, one person was killed and two injured. Six more, including two children, died in the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions. Kryvyi Rih, President Zelenskyy's hometown, reported six deaths, including two girls aged 5 and 12, from a direct strike by a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile. City officials described it as a "dark night" after the missile struck a family home.

In Lviv, near the Polish border, rescue workers searched for survivors trapped in damaged apartment buildings. President Zelenskyy had warned of a massive Russian attack, emphasizing that allies' willingness to provide anti-missile defenses was crucial for protecting lives. Poland, a NATO member, responded by activating fighter jets and air defense systems as a preventive measure.

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Fighter aircraft and an early warning aircraft have begun operations, while ground-based air defence systems and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of readiness.

Meanwhile, a warehouse belonging to Russia's top online retailer, Wildberries, caught fire in Penza following a Ukrainian drone attack. One person was injured, and approximately 200 were evacuated. This incident follows previous Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities and refineries, exacerbating the country's fuel crisis.

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A dark night.