NATO scrambles fighter jets after mass Russian missile attack

NATO member Poland scrambled fighter jets to defend its airspace overnight in response to long-range Russian strikes on Ukraine.

Poland’s military said in a statement early on Thursday that it had scrambled fighter jets and an early warning aircraft, while also putting its ground-based air defenses and radar systems on “the highest state” of alert.

“The Operational Commander of the Armed Forces has activated all available forces and means at his disposal. Duty fighter pairs and an early warning aircraft have been scrambled, and ground-based air defense systems as well as radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of maximum readiness,” it said.

It comes as Ukrainian authorities imposed restrictions on electricity use following a “massive missile and drone attack” on the country’s energy infrastructure.

Ukraine’s state-owned electricity transmission system operator, Ukrenergo, said early Thursday that emergency power outages were in place in “most” Ukrainian regions.

This is a breaking story. Updates to follow.