VLAD'S 'REVENGE'
Putin unleashes 200 missiles & drones on Ukraine in blistering barrage as explosions rock Kyiv & Nato jets scrambled
The mammoth blitz is Russia's biggest attack against Ukraine in weeks
RUSSIA has blasted Ukraine with a massive missile and drone barrage killing at least three people and sparking mass power cuts.
Sirens blared across Ukraine as Putin unleashed a wave of bombers to rain hell on the country amid Kyiv’s invasion of the Kursk region.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Russia horrifically used over 200 missiles and drones in the deadly strike, adding that "a lot of damage" was caused to the energy sector on Telegram.
Unbelievable footage shows a major missile strike on the dam in Kyiv.
It highlighted significant damage to the Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) in Vyshgorod, just north of the capital.
The dam itself did not appear holed but there was huge destruction to buildings on the structure - a vital source for providing water and electricity to the capital.
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It also suggests Russia’s readiness to strike civilian infrastructure since the reservoir on the Dnipro River is vital for water supplies.
Another horrifying video captures the moment a missile hits the water - presumably having missed the dam.
Separate clips show the four different locations hit in Kyiv, as smoke pours from the strikes in the city.
Another dramatic video shows an Iranian-designed Shahed drone strike on Ukrainian city Lutsk.
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More than half of Ukraine's regions were hit by the wave of attacks - which appeared to target energy infrastructure.
NATO ordered its warplanes to fly over Poland and elsewhere on the alliance’s eastern frontier as the gigantic attack unfolded.
In the first wave of attacks, explosions thundered in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Kremenchuk, Vinnytsia, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
A residential building was destroyed in Lutsk, said the city’s mayor.
Russian missiles including Kh-101s were “raining down on Ukraine” from Tu-22M3 and Tu-95 strategic bombers, according to one witness.
Ukrainian air defences were active - especially in Kyiv.
Explosions were heard early on Monday as plumes of black smoke were seen rising in the terrifying onslaught.
The attacks resulted in a loss of power in parts of the capital as well as Kryvyi Rih and Odesa region.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure appeared a key target of the blitzkrieg with Putin bent on crippling the country.
Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram: "This morning Russian armed forces carried out a mass strike using long-range high-precision weaponry... on critically important energy infrastructure facilities.
"All the set targets were hit."
Vid shows Ukrainians storm Russian lines despite being ‘outnumbered 3 to 1’
Ukrenergo - the country’s national electricity transmission system operator of Ukraine - ordered emergency blackouts throughout the country to preserve power.
Water supplies were also hit in Kyiv and elsewhere.
At least three people have been reported killed.
Zelensky also called on allies to stick to agreements to supply air defence systems and missiles following the horror attacks.
He added that Ukraine and partners should make a joint air defence agreement to shoot down Russian drones and missiles.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal spoke of the strikes on Telegram: "Today, 15 regions were affected by a massive Russian attack.
"The enemy used various types of weapons: drones, cruise missiles, and Kinzhals (supersonic missiles).
"There are wounded and dead."
Mr Shmyhal also called for the West to give long-range missiles Ukraine needed to strike Russia.
He said: “In order to stop the barbaric shelling of Ukrainian cities, it is necessary to destroy the place from which the Russian missiles are launched,” he said.
“For this, Ukraine needs long-range weapons and the permission of its partners to hit Russian objects with them.
“We count on the support of our allies and will definitely make Russia pay.”
A series of very loud explosions hit the Kyiv region, around the capital city.
Sirens blared across the entire country early on Monday morning - with widespread warnings to take cover.
Some 11 Tu-95 and six Tu-22M3 strategic bombers were involved in the blitzing of Ukraine along with four naval vessels.
MiG-31K warplanes capable of firing Kinzhal strategic missiles were also involved in the strikes.
Iranian-designed kamikaze drones were also unleashed on Ukraine.
But Ukraine bravely shot down around 15 missiles and 15 drones targeting Kyiv, local authorities say.
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Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky’s office, vowed: “The desire to destroy our energy industry will cost the Russians dearly - [in hits on their] their infrastructure.”
At a weekend meeting with top war commanders including General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the armed forces general staff, Putin had clearly shown his irritation.
Earlier, Putin’s US ambassador had made clear the tyrant would bare his teeth over the first invasion of Russian territory since the second World War.
Envoy Anatoly Antonov, said: “I’m telling you sincerely that the [Russian] President has made the decision.
“I am firmly convinced that all those responsible will be punished heavily for the events in the Kursk Region.”
Earlier today Ukraine had hit Russia, with strikes in Engels - location of a key air base used by Putin’s strategic bombers - and Saratov.
In both cities, tower blocks were hit.
The Engels strikes may have been intended to interrupt the Russian missile strikes.
An object flew into Polish airspace during Russia's attack on Ukraine today - and probably landed on Polish territory, state news agency PAP reports.
They report that the search for the object, that's not a missile, is underway.
General Maciej Klisz, Operational Commander of the Armed Forces, said to Polsat News: "The object was confirmed by radiolocation by at least three radar stations.
"I had full control of the object, I was ready to shoot it down."
Poland is a Nato ally and shares a long border with Ukraine.
Last night Kyiv warned Putin-allied Belarus to pull back its troops from the Ukrainian border or potentially make a "tragic mistake."
Ukraine's foreign ministry accused Belarus of "concentrating a significant number of personnel on the countries" in the Gomel region in a statement.
It also warned Belarus "not to make tragic mistakes for their country under Moscow's pressure" - urging leader and longtime Putin-ally Alexander Lukashenko "to cease unfriendly actions."
The other week he shared fears for the first time that the bloody conflict could spill over into his country and swore that neither he nor Putin want a wider war with Nato.
It comes after the man killed in a Russian missile strike in eastern Ukraine was an ex-British soldier, it has been revealed.
Rescuers discovered the body of Ryan Evans, who was a safety advisor for the Reuters news agency, in the rubble of a hotel in the eastern town of Kramatorsk.
Evans was killed after a missile struck the Hotel Sapphire where he was staying as part of a six-person team on Saturday, Reuters said in a statement.
Two of his colleagues were also injured in the blast and were being treated in hospital.
"We are urgently seeking more information about the attack, including by working with the authorities in Kramatorsk, and we are supporting our colleagues and their families," Reuters said.
Evans, a former British soldier, had been working with Reuters since 2022 and advised its journalists on safety around the world including in Ukraine, Israel and at the Paris Olympics.
Why has the Ukrainian invasion of Russia been so successful?
A DARING Ukrainian military push into Russia's Kursk region has become the largest attack on the country since World War Two.
Kyiv's forces have seized scores of villages, taken hundreds of prisoners and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians.
After more than a week of fighting, Russian troops are still struggling to drive out the invaders.
Why has Russian military been caught so unprepared?
A long undefended border
Russia's regions of Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod share a 720-mile border with Ukraine - including a 152-mile section in the Kursk region.
And it only had symbolic protection before Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.
It's been reinforced since then with checkpoints on key roads and field fortifications in places - but not enough to repel a Ukrainian assault.
The most capable Russian units are fighting in eastern Ukraine, leaving the border vulnerable to attack.
Element of surprise
Ukrainian troops participating in the incursion were reportedly only told about their mission a day before it began.
The secrecy contrasted with last year's counteroffensive - when Ukraine openly declared its goal of cutting the land corridor to annexed Crimea.
Ukraine ended up failing as troops trudged through Russian minefields and were pummelled by artillery and drones.
But in Kursk, Ukrainian troops didn't face any of these obstacles.
Battle-hardened units easily overwhelmed Russian border guards and small infantry units made up of inexperienced conscripts.
The Ukrainians drove deep into the region in several directions - facing little resistance and sowing chaos and panic.
Russia's slow response
The Russian military command initially relied on warplanes and choppers to try to stop the onslaught.
At least one Russian helicopter gunship was shot down and another was damaged.
Moscow began pulling in reinforcements, managing to slow Ukraine's advances - but failed to completely block troops
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