Key facts
- Russia launched a large-scale ballistic missile attack across Ukraine on Thursday.
- At least one person was killed in Kyiv.
- President Zelensky had warned of an impending massive Russian assault.
- Residential buildings in Lviv were damaged.
- Poland scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace.
- A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at a warehouse in Penza, Russia.
Russia launched a large-scale ballistic missile attack across Ukraine on Thursday, with explosions reported in Kyiv and at least one person killed. The attack followed a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia had prepared a massive assault.
Kyiv's city military administration confirmed one death, while Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported fires in several districts of the capital. Residential buildings in the western city of Lviv were also damaged by Russian air attacks. Zelensky had earlier posted a warning about the high probability of a massive strike overnight.
In response to the threat, Poland, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, scrambled fighter jets to protect its airspace. Ukraine's air defense systems are reportedly lacking sufficient missiles, prompting Zelensky to reiterate his request for more air defense supplies from allies.
Meanwhile, in Russia, a warehouse belonging to online retailer Wildberries in Penza caught fire due to a Ukrainian drone attack, resulting in one injury and the evacuation of approximately 200 people.