NATO warplanes scrambled as Vladimir Putin unleashes 'murderous' hell on Ukraine

NATO chiefs have scrambled warplanes above Europe following a "murderous" attack by .

At least ten people were killed and more than 70 wounded in the attacks on capital city Kyiv. At least 43 people have been hosptalised - including six children - and some young Ukrainians are now missing underneath the rubble of razed apartment buildings. Vladimir Putin’s also hit Kharkiv, Poltava region, Pavlohrad, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Zhytomyr. The Polish operational command announced it had scrambled its own and NATO aircraft due to the intensity of the Putin bombardment in , with NATO representatives confirming in their own announcement.

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Officials said in a statement that "Polish and allied aircraft" were busy policing Polish airspace following the intense attacks. They said: "Due to the activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, which is carrying out strikes on targets located, among others, in western Ukraine, the operation of Polish and allied aircraft has commenced in Polish airspace."

In its own statement, NATO Air Command said the organisation had scrambled Swedish jets following the alert, with the Nordic nation stationed locally alongside British RAF fighters.

The Air Command posted on social media: "For the first time under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing Swedish Gripen scramble in response to Russian aircraft close to NATO airspace

"Sweden are currently deployed to Malbork Poland alongside the RAF demonstrating seamless integration, safeguarding the integrity of Allied territory." The strikes with dozens of civilian victims came even as ’s envoy Steve Witkoff was reportedly due in Moscow by tomorrow for peace talks.

Trump had claimed Putin was ready for peace - and again tore into Zelensky for blocking a deal. Yet the carnage in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities showed a different reality as Putin deployed Tu-95MS nuclear capable strategic bombers and lethal drones.

In the wake of the savage attacks, announced he was returning to Kyiv, cutting short a South African visit, said the Ukrainian president.

“I am canceling part of the programme of this visit and, after meeting with the President of South Africa, I will immediately return to Ukraine.”

It was now “44 days since Ukraine agreed to a complete ceasefire". Mr Zelensky said: "This was a proposal from the United States. Forty-four days since continues to kill people and avoid tough pressure and accountability for this. It is very important that everyone in the sees and understands what is really happening.

“Approximately 70 missiles, including ballistic ones. Almost 150 more strike drones.”

Ukrainian forces downed 64 out of the 145 Shahed-type and other drones, as well as 48 out of the 70 missiles launched by Russia overnight, the Kyiv Air Force reported.