Russia launches strikes on Kyiv and Lviv region; Poland activates aircraft

KYIV — Russia launched air strikes on Kyiv and the western Ukrainian region of Lviv on Sunday, officials said, prompting neighboring Poland’s armed forces to launch “all necessary procedures” to protect their airspace, including activating Polish and allied aviation.

The Polish Operational Command said on X that a long-range Russian cruise missile entered Polish airspace for 39 seconds at 4~:23 a.m. Sunday near the town of Oserdów as it headed to targets in Western Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app there were several explosions in the Ukrainian capital after air defense systems were engaged in repelling the attack.

Ukraine air defense forces destroyed about a dozen of Russia-launched missiles over Kyiv and in the vicinity of the capital, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said on the Telegram.

Preliminary information showed no casualties or major damage as a result of the attacks, he said.

Russia has been pounding Ukraine for days in attacks portrayed by Moscow as revenge for Ukrainian attacks during its recent presidential election.

“For the third pre-dawn morning this week, all of Ukraine is under an air alert and has been advised to seek shelter,” U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink posted on X early Sunday. “Russia continues to indiscriminately launch drones and missiles with no regard for millions of civilians, violating international law.”

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Russia’s defense ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Telegram there were no attacks on the city but some 20 missiles and seven attack drones had been launched against the broader Lviv region, targeting “critical infrastructure”.

In a major attack on Lviv, Russian missiles were flying close to the border with Poland, Ukraine’s Telegram news outlets reported.

“Polish and allied aircraft have been activated, which may result in increased noise levels, especially in the south-eastern part of the country,” Poland’s armed forces said on X.

A Russian missile previously entered Polish airspace in December 2023. The incident led Poland, a member of NATO, to summon the Russian charge d’affaires and demand an explanation for the violation of Poland’s airspace.