Polish fighter jets scrambled after 'four killed' in Russian strikes in Ukraine
Polish fighter jets were scrambled by NATO on Tuesday after Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight.
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Four people were killed in the attacks on 11 regions, but dozens more are believed to be injured, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Poland's Armed Forces’ Operational Command said that the aircraft were deployed after detecting long-range Russian missiles striking Ukraine nearby.
It added that ground-based air defence systems and radar reconnaissance also reached a "maximum state of readiness."
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Posting on X, Poland's army wrote: "These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and its protection, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened regions.
"The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and the subordinate forces and resources remain ready for immediate response."
Mr Zelenskyy said the Russian attack consisted of nearly 40 drones launched against Shostka in the Sumy area of Ukraine.
He wrote on X: "In total, there were over 390 strike drones and 34 missiles of various types – ballistic, cruise, and guided air-launched missiles.
"These numbers clearly show that more protection is needed to save lives from Russian strikes. It is important to continue supporting Ukraine."
It comes after Ukraine struck Russia's Baltic Sea port of Primorsk with a series of drones. The facility exports around one million barrels of crude each day.
In December, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft operating close to its airspace over the Baltic Sea, the country's army said.
Speaking at the weekend, Mr Zelenskyy said he has a “very bad feeling” about the impact of the war in the Middle East on the efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.
He also reinforced the strain on the special relationship between the UK and US amid the Iran conflict, saying the history between the two nations is "stronger than the emotions of two or three people".