NATO jets scrambled as Putin launches horror 'nuclear missile without warhead' on Ukraine

Russia hit the city of Bila Tserkva in Ukraine’s Kyiv region with an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said after a vast overnight Russian attack. Prominent Ukrainian activist Serhiy Sternenko also spoke about the Oreshnik launch, writing on social media platform Telegram: “They launched a nuclear missile without a nuclear warhead to scare us and the world.”

At least two people were killed in what is believed to have been the third time the weapon was used during the war, started by Russia in February 2022. Russia first used the multiple-warhead Oreshnik on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. It was used a second time in January in the western Lviv region.

The use of the terrifying missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, was part of a terrifying wave of attacks which battered Ukraine overnight.

The combined attack included 600 strike drones and 90 air, sea and ground-launched missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. #

Ukrainian air defences destroyed and jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles. Around 19 missiles failed to reach targets, the Air Force said.

In the midst of the horrifying attacks, NATO was forced to scramble fighter jets in Poland. The Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces wrote on X before 1am on Sunday: “Due to the activity of the Russian Federation’s long-range aviation, which is carrying out strikes using air attack weapons on the territory of Ukraine, military aviation is operating in our airspace. In accordance with the applicable procedures, the Operational Command of the Armed Forces has activated the necessary forces and means at its disposal.

“Ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance have reached readiness status. These actions are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to threatened regions.”

Three hours later, a new message from the Command announced the operation had concluded. It said: “We inform you that no violation of the airspace of the Republic of Poland was recorded.”

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