NATO jets scrambled as Vladimir Putin launches £320m hypersonic missile attack

A menacing Vladimir Putin staged his largest overnight hypersonic missile and drone attack on Ukraine since his Alaska summit with Donald Trump, sparking NATO to deploy fighter jets.

The £320 million onslaught was launched across "many regions", including the western city of Lviv less than 50 miles from the border with Poland, forcing NATO to scramble fighter aircraft in the neighbouring country to protect its airspace. "In connection with the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory... aircraft of the Polish Air Force and allied aviation are operating in Polish airspace," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said.

The strikes have once again sparked major doubt on Putin's readiness to engage in peace moves as the White House seeks a date for direct talks between the Russian dictator and Volodymyr Zelensky.

READ MORE: Brit found dead on cruise ship docked in Italy as fellow passengers try to save him

READ MORE: Dad killed his baby in bucket of laundry detergent to 'teach wife a lesson'

It also marks one of the most brutal attacks since the beginning of the three-and-a-half year war, with Putin blowing an estimated £320 million of Russian state cash on the latest strikes. Moscow launched 40 missiles and almost 600 Shahed kamikaze drones on the city, with buildings left torn apart and spewing fire and smoke.

"Due to the activity of the Russian Federation's long-range air forces conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory - including using hypersonic missiles - aircraft of the Air Force and Allied aircraft are operating in Polish airspace," said a statement. Commanders "activated all available forces and resources.

"Duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest level of alert."

In Lviv, one person died and two more were injured as a result of the Russian strikes. Dozens of houses were damaged, according to Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, as Putin's forces sought to terrorise civilians. A strike also hit the Flex electronics plant in Mukachevo, igniting a large fire, with warehouses hit and a dozen injured. Residents were ordered to close windows due to the large fire and choking smoke.

Gas infrastructure was also hit in the Kehychivka district of the Kharkiv region. In Zaporizhzhia, strikes hit industrial infrastructure facilities. Responding to the latest attacks, Zelensky said Russia was continuing its terror on Ukraine "as if nothing is changing at all".

"Tonight, the Russian army set one of its crazy anti-records," Zelensky said, adding that "civilian infrastructure enterprises, residential buildings and our people" were hit. "The Russians carried out this strike as if nothing is changing at all. As if there are no efforts from the world to stop this war.

"A reaction to this is needed. There is still no signal from Moscow that they are truly going to engage in meaningful negotiations and end this war."