Poland scrambles jets after Russia launches 'biggest overnight bombardment of war'

Ukraine: 'Russia is escalating the war'

The head of Ukraine's presidential office has shared a message on X following Russia's overnight aerial bombardment of Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak says Moscow has "no intention" of stopping the war.

Russia launched 'biggest overnight bombardment' of war, Ukraine says

In our last post we mentioned Russia's overnight drone attacks across Ukraine targeting multiple regions.

Ukraine's air force says Moscow launched 479 drones in what it is calling the biggest overnight bombardment of the war so far.

Apart from drones, 20 missiles of various types were fired at different parts of Ukraine, according to the air force, which said the barrage targeted mainly central and western areas of the country.

It said the country's air defences destroyed 277 drones and 19 missiles in mid-flight and that only 10 drones or missiles hit their target.

Western region struck

Explosions were reported during the night in Kyiv and Rivne, with the governor of the latter reporting one civilian was injured.

"A very difficult night for Rivne Oblast. Our region suffered a powerful enemy air strike," Oleksandr Koval said.

Rivne is located in northwestern Ukraine and shares a border with Belarus. The region is not a frequent target of Russian aerial attacks.

Elsewhere, one person was injured in Zaporizhzhia and four were hurt in Kherson, according to the governors of the two regions.

Officials said that seven civilians had been injured after strikes in the Kharkiv area and that nine people were injured in the Sumy region, where Russia launched nearly 90 strikes.

Poland scrambles jets as Russia targets western Ukraine

Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft early this morning after Russia launched air strikes targeting western Ukraine, Warsaw says.

"The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the regions bordering the areas at risk," the Polish army said on X. 

All of Ukraine was under air raid alerts as of 2am UK time after Kyiv's air force warned of Russian missile and drone attacks. 

Ukraine targets drone warehouse 800 miles into Russia

Ukraine's military says it has targeted an electronics company that manufactures drone parts 800 miles into Russia.

The strike forced a temporary suspension of production at the site, which is around a seven-hour drive east of Moscow, according to the governor of the region. 

It's among the deepest attacks into Russia in more than three years of the war.

The Ukrainian military said the drone attack sparked a large-scale fire at the plant, which it claims manufactures navigation equipment used in attack drones, guided aerial bombs and high-precision weapons. 

The Russian defence ministry - which reports only how many drones were destroyed, not how many Ukraine launched - said on Telegram that its units downed two drones over the area. 

Sky News could not independently verify the reports about the attack. 

The big picture: What you need to know as the war enters a new week

Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. 

Before we bring you the latest news, here's everything you need to know about the war ahead of a new week.

Military developments

Russia has claimed its forces have made it to the Dnipropetrovsk region, which covers parts of southern, eastern and central Ukraine.

The Russian defence ministry said last week that a tank division had advanced to the western border of Donetsk and was continuing its advance into the region.

Dnipropetrovsk has remained almost entirely under Ukrainian control since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Aerial attacks continue

In the skies, Russia has continued its intense aerial assaults across Ukraine, launching hundreds of drones and missiles during attacks last week.

Strikes hit Kyiv, killing at least four and injuring civilians, and Kharkiv, where a major attack killed four more and wounded dozens. Russian forces also targeted Kherson, damaging infrastructure.

The attacks came after Moscow vowed to take revenge on Ukraine after a drone attack on Russia's bomber fleet known as Operation Spider's Web.

Russia likely planning 'multi-pronged' strike

The Russian defence ministry said its barrage of attacks was in response to the Ukrainian operation, but a US official has told Reuters the complete response is yet to come.

Moscow is likely to launch a significant, multi-pronged strike, they said.

Russia's UK ambassador has pointed the finger at the UK when he told Sky News that Ukraine must have had assistance in Operation Spider's Web drone attacks.

A UK government minister declined to "speculate" on whether the UK had aided the strike, but says the country "wants to stand alongside Ukraine".

Peace talks latest

Ukraine and Russia both returned to Istanbul for a second round of peace talks last week that ended without any major breakthrough.

Ukrainian negotiators said Russia had again rejected an "unconditional ceasefire" - a key demand by Kyiv and its allies in Europe and the US.

The Russian team said it had proposed a two- or three-day truce "in certain areas" of the vast frontline, but gave no further details.

The two sides agreed to exchange prisoners, but no date was announced for the swap, and it has since descended into a blame game and uncertainty.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted talks must occur at the highest level to secure an end to the war.

He told US news outlet ABC News that only "hard pressure" led by Donald Trump would get Vladimir Putin to the table.

"I am convinced that the president of the United States has all the powers and enough leverage to step up," he said.

'We are ready for a ceasefire', Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told ABC News he is ready for a ceasefire.

The Kyiv leader has consistently repeated this message to allies and the US, stressing that he is prepared for a halt in the fighting and saying that Moscow is the obstacle to ending the war.

However, he warned the US outlet that only "hard pressure" led by Washington would get Vladimir Putin to the table to discuss a ceasefire.

"I am convinced that the president of the United States has all the powers and enough leverage to step up," Zelenskyy said.

Slovakia vows to block EU sanctions on Russia that hit its national interests

Slovakia has vowed to block any EU sanctions on Russia that hit its national interests.

Prime Minister Robert Fico made the comments on Sunday after his country's parliament approved a resolution calling on the government not to back any new measures.

"If there is a sanction that would harm us, I will never vote for it," Fico told a news conference.

Slovakia, while a NATO and EU member, has diverged from its Western allies in its position on Ukraine under Fico.

It has stopped official state military aid to Kyiv.

But the country has not blocked any previous EU sanctions, including the 17th package targeting Moscow's shadow fleet - which was adopted in May.

Kharkiv recovers day after attacks that killed four

Yesterday, the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv suffered a number of attacks, killing at least four people and injuring more than 20.

Today, residents were forced to pick up the pieces and repair the damage inflicted by the attack.

Oleg Synegubov, head of the state administration, said dozens of volunteers had gathered after the strikes.

"Closing broken windows, cleaning the area, distributing hot lunches and coffee, providing support - the teams work clearly and harmoniously every time." He said.

While much of the reporting and attention is often focused on the attacks conducted during this war, it's worth keeping in mind that after each one, ordinary citizens have to pick up the pieces of their lives.

-SKY NEWS