NATO scrambles war planes as Russia rains hell on Ukraine with missile | World | News

NATO scrambled its warplanes overnight amid a huge Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine. A Ukrainian F-16 supersonic fighter supplied by the West was shot down with the loss of a “hero” pilot amid a desperate operation to counter 500-plus strikes by Vladimir Putin’s forces.

Pilot Lt-Col Maksym Ustimenko, born in 1993, shot down seven air targets using all his weapons before he was hit.“The pilot used the entire complex of on-board weapons, and shot down seven air targets,” said the Ukrainian air force. “During the last exercise, his plane was damaged and began to lose altitude.

“Maksym Ustimenko did everything possible, took the plane away from a settlement, but did not have time to eject…

“He died like a Hero!”

Ukraine claimed to have downed 475 out of 537 aerial targets – an astonishing success rate, many by its air force pilots.

The Russian strikes involved Tu-95 strategic bombers and MiG aircraft.

Russian drones struck the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight, killing two people and injuring at least 17.

A drone slammed into a residential tower block in the city, causing damage to three floors and trapping residents, emergency services said. The two killed in the attack were a married couple, according to regional Gov. Oleh Kiper, who added that three children were among the injured.

Poland’s operational command announced that NATO fighters were scrambled because of the intensity of Russian onslaught on Ukraine.

“Due to the attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace,” said a statement.

“The Operational Commander of the [armed forces] has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal.

“The on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness.

“The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.”

The blitz came after Ukraine successfully inflicted more pain on Putin’s battered air force in a ferocious attack.

Drones struck the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast in the early hours of Saturday morning. Initial reports claim two of the supersonic fighter-bombers were destroyed, while two more were damaged.

Ukrainian city Kremenchuk was hit with apocalyptic footage showing a former oil refinery.

The city was attacked simultaneously by Putin’s forces with cruise missiles, Kinzhal – our Dagger – hypersonic missiles, and Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones.

It was the most powerful onslaught on the city since the start of the war.

The attacks were across the country and amounted to one of the heaviest bombardments of the three year conflict.

A missile strike on Zaporizhzhia left an industrial facility on fire.

“A production facility of one of the enterprises was damaged,” said Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration.

Mykolaiv and Donetsk region were hit.

The NATO defence moves came after the Russians targeted Lviv in western Ukraine.

Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian forces attempted to strike critical infrastructure, but no civilians or residential buildings were affected.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had unleashed 537 missiles and drones including 477 Hashed drones.

Four Kinzhal and seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles were fired at Ukraine.

The blitzkrieg also included 41 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles.