Poland Activates Air Defenses Amidst Escalating Russian Attacks on Ukraine

Fri Oct 10 2025 14:32:54 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In response to intensified Russian missile strikes targeting western Ukraine, Poland has dispatched fighter jets to secure its airspace. The move comes amid reports of casualties and significant power outages in the affected Ukrainian regions.

Russia has launched a series of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, causing fatalities and power outages, particularly in Lviv and Zaporizhzhia. In light of the escalating conflict, Poland has scrambled its fighter jets to protect its airspace, while at the same time, NATO aircraft joined in the defense efforts. Public transport in several Ukrainian cities has been disrupted as air raid alerts spread across the country.

Russia pounded Ukraine with missile and drone attacks overnight on Saturday and into Sunday morning, focusing on the major western city of Lviv.

Ukraine's neighbour Poland scrambled fighter jets in order to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the Polish military confirmed. Allied NATO aircraft were also deployed.

Lviv's regional head Maksym Kozytskyi said two people were killed in strikes in the region, and two more injured.

Elsewhere, Russia again targeted Ukraine's power plants - and one was struck in an overnight attack on Zaporizhzhia, where the mayor said one person died and more than 73,000 people were without electricity.

The Russian assaults came days after a US official said the US would support Ukraine launching deep strikes inside Russian territory.

Polish and allied aircraft are operating in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness, Poland's operational command said in a post on X.

As of 07:30 (04:30 GMT), parts of the city were left without power, and public transport was yet to start running, with Sadovyi stressing on Telegram that it was dangerous to go out into the streets.

In Zaporizhzhia, Russia's overnight attack left more than 73,000 consumers... without electricity, according to Ivan Fedorov, the regional governor. A 16-year-old girl was among those receiving medical assistance, he added, posting photos apparently showing a partly destroyed multi-storey block and a burnt-out car from the site of the attack.

Meanwhile, another NATO member - Lithuania - had to close its airspace briefly after objects were spotted, following recent incidents in Denmark, Norway, and Germany. Lithuania suspended flights at its largest Vilnius airport for several hours before reopening it.