NATO fighter planes scrambled as Putin launches fresh blitz on key ally

NATO fighter jets have been deployed as Vladimir Putin initiates another brutal assault on Ukraine.

The action was taken following the death of at least four individuals, including a 12 year old girl, in the attack. Two fatalities were reported at a devastated Kyiv cardiology institute.

Putin utilised his Tu-95MS strategic bombers - known as Bears - from an Arctic air base to wreak havoc on Ukraine, particularly the capital city, Kyiv. "The body of a female, initially believed to be a 12-year-old girl, was found in the rubble of the attack in the Solomianskyi district," stated Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration. The news comes as Putin humiliated as Ukraine downs £33m Russian fighter jet readied to strike.

Distressing footage revealed a drone crashing into a shopping centre and exploding in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region. At least 27 people were injured in the capital.

In Zaporizhzhia, a minimum of 21 individuals were injured in at least six strikes on the city. Two of the victims of Putin's terror were children, reportsthe Mirror.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia launched 500 drones and 40 missiles. The attack, which included Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, lasted approximately 12 hours, according to Ukrainian government officials.

The onslaught on Ukraine compelled Poland's operation commander to scramble its own and NATO fighters near the Ukrainian border as a precautionary measure. "Due to the activity of long-range Russian air forces conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory, Polish and allied air forces have begun operating in our airspace," read a statement.

"The Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces has activated the forces and resources at his disposal. Duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest level of alert.

"These actions are preventative in nature and aimed at securing airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened areas."

Ukraine's emergency service revealed civilians were deliberately targeted - just one day after Russian warmongering foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed they never carried out such attacks.

"At night, the Russians once again shelled the capital. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged in the Solomianskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Holosiivskyi, Darnytskyi, and Dniprovskyi districts."

The horrific Russian assault in the early hours of Sunday morning struck a five-storey building.

"A fire broke out on the 3rd and 4th floors with partial destruction.

"The body of a 12-year-old girl was rescued from the rubble. Three people were saved, one person was injured. Firefighters are working on site," the emergency service confirmed.

Throughout Ukraine, Putin's military forces also struck a cardiology institute, where two people perished, a wine factory and a children's education institute.

The wine facility was located in Odesa where 50 workers were evacuated. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced: "The fire in the state medical institution building has been extinguished. Rescuers found the bodies of two deceased there. Five people were saved."

Russian sources have reported that two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles targeted fortified storage facilities for Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets at Starokostiantyniv airbase in the Khmelnytskyi region.