Explosions were heard in central Kyiv during rush hour on Monday morning (26 August), as Ukraine's military warned of a large-scale Russian missile and drone assault following earlier drone strikes. The Ukrainian Air Force warned citizens of the presence of 11 Russian TU-95 strategic bombers in the air and confirmed several missile launches. Local authorities also reported explosions in the northwestern city of Lutsk, where a block of flats was damaged, and investigations into possible casualties are ongoing.
The Polish Operational Command said on X (formerly Twitter) that Polish and allied aircraft had been mobilised in response to the Russian attack, which targeted areas in western Ukraine and near the Polish border. Ukrainians have been expecting a significant Russian missile attack for some time. Last week, the US embassy warned of an increased risk of attack around Ukraine's Independence Day, which was celebrated on Saturday (24 August).
In response, Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone strikes against Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There was no immediate response from Russia. Both countries deny targeting civilians and insist their strikes are focused on infrastructure critical to each other's military efforts.
