Fighter jets scrambled after Russia unleashes missiles towards Nato border

Poland has been forced to scramble at least three jets this morning after Russia fired missiles towards its Nato border with Ukraine.

The Kremlin unleashed a huge onslaught on Ukraine as footage shows blocks of flats on fire in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.

The missiles fired towards Poland turned away and towards Russian targets including a Ukrainian marine drone plant in Mykolaiv, and barrages of attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv.

A spokesman for the operational command of Poland’s armed forces said the country was ‘constantly monitoring the situation’.

A statement added: ‘Intensive long-range aviation activity of the Russian Federation is being observed due to missile strikes on Ukrainian territory.

‘All necessary procedures aimed at ensuring the safety of Polish airspace have been launched.

Fires have erupted following explosions in Kyiv (Picture: DSNS Ukraine/e2w)

Ukrainian media reported that Poland scrambled three of its jets to intercept the Russian missile (Picture: Kharkiv1654/e2w)

Kyiv residents sheltered in underground stations (Picture: Social media/e2w)

‘We warn you that Polish and allied aircraft have been activated, which may cause increased noise levels, especially in the southeast area of the country.’

Fears of Nato countries being dragged into the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine were highlighted as the Russian missiles appeared to be overflying Ukraine and heading towards Poland.

Poland scrambled at least three F-16 jets to counter the potential Russian threat.

Kyiv residents sheltered underground in tube stations as multiple explosions were heard following a nationwide air raid alert.

Vitaliy Klychko, the city’s mayor, warned: ‘Explosions in the city. Air defence is working. Stay in shelters!

‘An apartment building caught fire in Holosiivsky district. Firefighters and rescue unit are on its way to the scene.

‘And in the Dnipro district of the capital, there are currently two injured people. Both were treated by medics on the spot.’

A missile was blown up in the sky over Kyiv (Picture: REUTERS)

A number of residential buildings were set alight (Picture: e2w news)

Meanwhile Kharkiv was hit by at least four explosions, and missiles also hit Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk in what’s been described as one of the worst onslaughts of the war.

One person has been killed in Mykolaiv with at least 10 people reported wounded so far, nine in Kyiv and one in Kharkiv.

Kyiv’s regional administration say its air defences shot down around two dozen Russian missiles during the attack – and that the missiles entered the capital in several waves and from different directions.

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The attack comes as controversial former Fox News host Tucker Carlson visited Russia to interview Vladimir Putin this week.

Critics say he’s being used by Putin to broadcast Kremlin propaganda to the west.

This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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