Russia's large-scale air strike in Kiev kills 9, neighboring Poland and Romania activate air defense alert

Ukrainian officials said today that Russia bombed the capital Kiev and surrounding areas at night, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens more. At the same time, neighboring Romania triggered an air defense alert due to drone intrusions, and Poland also launched defensive air operations to protect its airspace.

The Russia-Ukraine war has lasted for four and a half years, and the opposing sides have intensified long-range attacks in recent months, causing the number of civilian casualties on both sides to rise.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on the messaging software Telegram today that this large-scale missile attack on Kiev hit residential areas and warehouses. He later pointed out that the death toll in Kiev increased to 8 people and 33 others were injured. According to the Kiev Military Administration, a medical facility and an educational institution were also damaged.

Kyiv Region Governor Tymur Tkachenko said that the attack on the city of Brovary in Kyiv Region left one man dead and another injured, and "an industrial facility was damaged. All relevant units have arrived at the scene and are working to extinguish the fire."

The Ukrainian Air Force has issued a warning that Russian Kalibr cruise missiles have flown near the village of Kyrylivka in Kiev Oblast and are heading towards the capital.

The wave of attacks has also prompted neighboring North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members to adopt security responses.

The Polish military command said it had dispatched aircraft and activated its air defense system to protect Polish airspace, especially in areas bordering Ukraine.

The Romanian Ministry of Defense pointed out that the radar system detected an air target near the Ukrainian border at night, and subsequently dispatched two Spanish fighter jets and a Romanian Air Force helicopter on a NATO mission to scramble into the air.

The Romanian Ministry of Defense said that a drone entered Romanian airspace near Galati, triggered an air defense alert, and then crashed in an uninhabited area in Tulcea county.

Russia also reported a large-scale drone attack by Ukraine.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that from yesterday evening to early this morning, a total of 250 drones flew towards the Moscow region, and most of them were destroyed quite far away from the capital. "28 drones were shot down in the Moscow region."