NATO scrambles jets as Russia fires nearly 400 drones toward Ukraine, signaling new spring offensive

Russia launched astir 400 drones and dozens of missiles crossed Ukraine overnight Monday, triggering NATO to scramble combatant jets successful neighboring countries, according to reports.

The monolithic aerial battle killed astatine slightest 4 group and injured much than 2 dozen, pinch strikes hitting aggregate regions including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, The Associated Press reported, citing Ukrainian officials.

Poland and Romania some scrambled combatant jets arsenic Russian strikes approached NATO airspace, East2West reported, pinch Warsaw placing aerial defenses connected nan "highest authorities of readiness," Poland’s operational bid said.

"Due to nan activity of long-range Russian aerial forces conducting strikes connected Ukrainian territory, Polish and allied aerial forces person begun operating successful our airspace," Poland’s operational bid said, according to East2West.

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Rescue workers effort to put retired a occurrence astatine a residential building burning aft a Russian drone onslaught successful Poltava region, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (East2west)

Hours earlier, 2 F-16 combatant jets were scrambled successful chap NATO authorities Romania arsenic Russian drones attacked Ukraine adjacent nan River Danube, nan outlet reported. The Danube forms portion of nan separator betwixt Ukraine and Romania.

Ukrainian subject leaders said Russian forces person intensified attacks on nan astir 750-mile beforehand line, pinch hundreds of assaults reported successful caller days.

The Institute for nan Study of War said nan escalation suggests Moscow’s long-anticipated spring-summer offensive is now underway, according to The Associated Press.

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A residential high-rise burns aft a Russian drone onslaught successful Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, arsenic flames and fume move from aggregate floors. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)

Ukraine’s aerial unit said Russia launched astir 400 drones. Ukrainian officials later said astir were intercepted aliases disrupted, though immoderate were capable to deed their targets, according to East2West.

Russia besides launched 23 cruise missiles and 7 ballistic missiles astatine Ukraine during nan night, hitting astatine slightest 10 locations crossed nan country, according to nan Ukrainian aerial force.

Ukrainian civilians person endured relentless barrages since Russia launched a full-scale penetration of its neighbour much than 4 years ago. U.S.-brokered talks betwixt Moscow and Kyiv complete nan past twelvemonth person brought nary respite, pinch Russia rejecting Ukraine’s ceasefire offer.

The latest strikes came aft Ukraine deed Russia’s largest Baltic port, Primorsk, successful a pinpoint onslaught a time earlier, leaving nan cardinal export hub successful flames, East2West reported.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, threatened "dire" consequences complete what he said was Ukraine’s usage of Storm Shadow missiles, which this period deed and damaged a microelectronics works successful Russia’s Bryansk region.

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Rescue workers effort to put retired a occurrence astatine a residential building burning aft a Russian drone onslaught successful Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko)

"The British, without whose information nan usage of Storm Shadow missiles is simply impossible, decided to punctual everyone of some Ukraine and themselves," he said. "However, immoderate action has consequences. And for everyone progressive successful nan calamity successful Bryansk, nan consequences will beryllium dire."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.