NATO jets scrambled as Putin launches massive attack on Ukraine

NATO scrambled fighters today amid a ferocious Putin missile and drone strike over Ukraine, as a 'Russian drone' encroached on alliance state Lithuania. All of Ukraine was under red alert at breakfast time as Vladimir Putin sent up three MiG-31Ks armed with hypersonic missiles.

Russia made a second strike within several hours on Starokostiantyniv Air Base in western Ukraine with hypersonic Kinzhal - or Dagger - missiles, according to reports. NATO fighters were scrambled over Poland, which borders Ukraine, as a precaution against this Russian aggression. In neighbouring Lithuania - another NATO and EU state - a suspected Russian drone triggered a major security alert around 5am, buzzing the capital Vilnius after illegally flying in from Putin's satellite state, Belarus.

It initially appeared to be a Shahed-type unmanned plane, which Putin is using daily to wreak havoc in his war against Ukraine with deadly explosions. Later reports identified it as a Russian-made Gerbera drone with an eight-foot wingspan, designed to deceive air defence systems rather than cause explosions.

Both types are Russian military drones. However, there was no final identification. It is the second time this month that a Russian drone is reported to have encroached Lithuanian airspace from Belarus in a possible escalation to test NATO defences. Vilnius airport remained open throughout the alert, it was reported.

"The police report a sighting of an unidentified type of unmanned aerial vehicle that flew into Lithuanian territory from Belarus in the morning of July 28," said a statement from law enforcement. "Residents who notice a fallen drone are strongly advised not to approach it and to immediately report it by calling [emergency number] 112."

The police said: "According to received reports, the drone was seen at an altitude of about 200 metres [656ft], last seen near Vilnius."

Darius Buta, of Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre, said: "The police have mobilised all forces and all services have been informed. Residents who have spotted the drone are urged to immediately call 112 and under no circumstances approach the device."

The Lithuanian defence minister, Dovil Šakalien, said the drone could have reached her country after being repressed by Ukrainian air defence electronics warfare.

"Given the active actions of the Ukrainian defence to disorient Russian drones, the probability of lost drones remains increased", she said.

The head of the parliamentary committee on National Security and Defence, Giedrimas Jeglinskas, said on LRT Radio: "As far as I understand, an [unmanned] aircraft was spotted invading Lithuania from Belarus."

A search was under way for the drone.

In Warsaw, the Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces said war planes were scrambled after "long-range aviation of the Russian Federation once again launched missile attacks on the territory of Ukraine".

A statement said: "To ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces has activated all necessary procedures. Polish and Allied duty aircraft have been scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness. These actions are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened region."

Footage showed missile strikes - believed to be Kinzhal [Dagger] - at what was reported to be Starokostiantyniv airbase in Khmelnytskyi region, which hosts Ukraine's tactical bomber force.

Ukrainian capital Kyiv was also hit in the Russian onslaught, which wounded eight civilians in a residential high-rise, including a three-year-old child.