NATO aircraft scrambled amid overnight Russian drone strikes on Ukraine
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
NATO Scrambles Typhoon Jets Amid Russian Attack on Ukraine
Two German fighter jets were deployed from Romania overnight amid a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine. The incident highlights the continuing volatility near NATO’s eastern border as Russia intensifies aerial attacks on Ukraine’s grain-exporting ports along the Danube. The German jets were airborne during a period in which Ukraine’s military reported 93 drones and two ballistic missiles were fired at 20 locations, including the Odesa region. Some drones struck targets in Izmail causing fires and injuring at least one person, Ukrainian authorities said. No Russian aerial vehicles entered Romanian airspace and the German jets returned safely to base, landing at 1:10 a.m. local time. The most recent attack is one of the largest this month.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Two German fighter jets were deployed from Romania overnight amid a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine that struck Danube River port infrastructure in Izmail near the NATO frontier.
The German Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, stationed at Romania’s Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base as part of NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing mission, were scrambled to monitor the situation in the border area with Ukraine, particularly northern Tulcea County, according to Romania’s Ministry of National Defense.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights the continuing volatility near NATO’s eastern border as Russia intensifies aerial attacks on Ukraine’s grain-exporting ports along the Danube. These facilities are crucial to Kyiv’s economy and have become regular targets of Russian strikes.
The port of Izmail, which lies across the river from the city of Tulcea, is clearly visible from higher ground in the Romanian city, underlining the proximity of the strikes to NATO territory.
A German Eurofighter Typhoon jet is seen over Wunstorf, Germany, in this file photo taken on June 7, 2018. A German Eurofighter Typhoon jet is seen over Wunstorf, Germany, in this file photo taken on June 7, 2018. Alexander Koerner/Getty Images
What To Know
Romanian aerial defenses detected the Russia drones and coordinated with NATO forces as part of standard protocol.
The German jets were airborne during a period in which Ukraine’s military reported 93 drones and two ballistic missiles were fired at 20 locations in the country, including the Odesa region. Some drones struck targets in Izmail causing fires and injuring at least one person, Ukrainian authorities said.
No Russian aerial vehicles entered Romanian airspace and the German jets returned safely to base, landing at 1:10 a.m. local time.
NATO nations, including Germany, frequently rotate air policing missions in Eastern Europe to respond to Russian air operations near alliance borders. According to ABC News, incidents in which fragments of Russian drones or missiles have landed on NATO territory have occurred in countries such as Romania, Lithuania and Poland.
The most recent attack is one of the largest this month, according to Ukrainian authorities. In Izmail, the head of Odesa’s regional administration, Oleg Kiper, said infrastructure and production facilities were damaged in the overnight assault.
What People Are Saying
Romania’s Ministry of National Defense said: “Close cooperation with our allies in the framework of enhanced Air Policing missions strengthens Romania’s defense capability and contributes to NATO’s deterrence and defense posture on the eastern flank.”
What Happens Next
The latest attacks will likely add to pressure within NATO to bolster air defenses and surveillance near its eastern borders. Previous cases of missile debris landing in NATO territory have sparked diplomatic concern but have not yet led to military escalation.
German, British and Italian forces have been stationed on a rotational basis at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base. NATO has not indicated any change to its operational posture, but continued proximity of Russian strikes to alliance airspace may renew calls for enhanced deterrence measures.
Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets Amid Russian Attack on Ukraine
Poland’s armed forces have scrambled aircraft in response to threat posed by a combined drone and missile attack by Russian forces on Ukraine. NATO member said in a statement the aircraft were deployed overnight Sunday and air defense and radar reconnaissance systems had been placed on high alert. Latest incident comes amid growing concerns from countries on NATO’s eastern flank about the risk of Russian attacks on Ukraine spilling over into the territory of alliance members. Russian forces launched 324 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones, four Kh-101 cruise missiles and three Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force. At least nine explosions were heard in Kropyvnytskyi, the Kirovohrad regional governor Andrii Raikovych said Monday.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Poland’s armed forces have scrambled aircraft in response to the threat posed by a combined drone and missile attack by Russian forces on Ukraine.
The NATO member said in a statement the aircraft were deployed overnight Sunday and air defense and radar reconnaissance systems had been placed on high alert.
Newsweek has contacted the Polish armed forces for further comment.
A Polish Air Force F-16 takes part in a NATO air policing mission on July 4, 2023. A Polish Air Force F-16 takes part in a NATO air policing mission on July 4, 2023. JOHN THYS/Getty Images
Why It Matters
Poland has now scrambled aircraft at least three times this month to counter the threat posed by Russian missile and drone strikes on neighboring Ukraine.
The latest incident comes amid growing concerns from countries on NATO’s eastern flank about the risk of Russian attacks on Ukraine spilling over into the territory of alliance members.
What To Know
Russian forces conducted a combined attack on Ukraine overnight Sunday using drones and missiles, with explosions reported across the country, including in Kyiv.
Poland’s armed forces said in a statement that Polish and allied aircraft were consequently scrambled and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance system placed on the highest level of combat readiness.
The statement did not specify which other allied nation or nations were involved but last week Swedish aircraft stationed in Poland were scrambled following a similar Russian attack.
Sunday’s statement said that Polish armed forces were monitoring the situation and its forces and assets “remain fully ready to respond immediately.”
Ukrainian authorities said Monday that Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least four civilians and injured at least 40 over the previous day.
Russian forces launched 324 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones, four Kh-101 cruise missiles and three Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force.
A drone and missile attack on Kyiv injured at least eight people, including a three-year-old child, according to Kyiv City military administration head Tymur Tkachenko.
A Russian drone strike on a bus on Sunday killed three people and injured 19 near the village of Yunakivka in the Sumy region, about five miles from the border with Russia, according to regional authorities.
Elsewhere, at least nine explosions were heard in Kropyvnytskyi, the Kirovohrad regional governor Andrii Raikovych said.
Telegram monitoring channels reported Russian launches of Kinzhal missiles toward Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region, which hosts a Ukrainian Air Force air base.
Ukrainian authorities do not usually reveal details about Russian attacks on military and strategic targets and so any damage has not been verified.
What People Are Saying
Poland’s armed forces said, according to a translation: “To ensure the security of Polish airspace…Polish and allied aircraft on duty were scrambled, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were placed on maximum alert.”
What Happens Next
Sunday’s attack comes days after Russia and Ukraine held their third round of peace talks in Istanbul on July 23, which did not result in any ceasefire agreement.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday Russia must fulfill its war goals before renewing bilateral ties with Ukraine, suggesting Moscow has no intention of slowing down either on the battlefield or with its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
NATO Scrambles Fighter Jets Amid ‘Massive’ Russian Attacks
Fighter jets from NATO nations Poland, Sweden, Romania and Italy responded to a “massive” Russian aerial assault on Ukraine overnight. Poland has scrambled fighters several times this month as Moscow carried out fresh strikes on Ukraine. Sweden and the United Kingdom currently have a rotation of fighter jets stationed in Poland as part of NATO’s air policing mission. Russia had fired 426 drones and 19 cruise missiles at the war-torn country overnight, as well as five of its hard-to-intercept Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles, Ukraine’s air force said on Monday. Around 23 of the drones hit across three locations, while debris of intercepted uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) fell in 12 places, the air force says. “We must continue to scale up interceptors that will allow us to protect ourselves from massive attacks,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday. “Russia massively struck during the night at the housing, educational, and transport infrastructure,” hitting the capital, he said.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Fighter jets from NATO nations Poland, Sweden, Romania and Italy responded to a “massive” Russian aerial assault on Ukraine overnight, the Polish military and Romanian Defense Ministry said in separate statements on Monday.
Why It Matters
Russia’s waves of airstrikes, particularly on sites close to NATO territory to the west of Ukraine, have frequently pushed the alliance to scramble fighter jets. Poland has scrambled fighters several times this month as Moscow carried out fresh strikes on Ukraine, and Romania —which also borders Ukraine —has repeatedly reacted to drone attacks close to the border.
NATO members are collectively obliged to respond to attacks on other alliance nations under Article 5 of the founding treaty. Russian drones and missiles entering NATO airspace have not been treated as attacks on the alliance so far.
What To Know
“Operations of Polish and allied aviation have begun, and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of highest readiness,” the Polish military said in a statement posted to social media early on Monday.
Two Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters are seen above Sweden in this file photo from 2013. Two Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters are seen above Sweden in this file photo from 2013. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images
Gripen fighter jets belonging to Sweden’s air force, stationed in northern Poland, “helped ensure the safety of Polish skies,” Warsaw’s Operational Command said. Sweden and the United Kingdom currently have a rotation of fighter jets stationed in Poland as part of NATO’s air policing mission.
A spokesperson for the Polish armed forces told Newsweek two Polish F-16s and two Swedish Gripens were involved in operations overnight.
Romania’s Defense Ministry said in its own statement that Russia had attacked Ukrainian airport infrastructure overnight, including north of the Romanian border, and that Bucharest had scrambled two F-16 aircraft at around 3:30 a.m. local time. Roughly an hour and a half later, two Italian fighter jets also took off from a Romanian air base, the Romanian military said.
While the fighter jets were in the air, four targets “unintentionally penetrated, for a few minutes, into our country’s airspace,” the Romanian government said. The objects were not “a real danger to national security,” the defense ministry added.
Poland later said no Russian targets crossed into Polish airspace during its “massive missile attack on Ukrainian territory.”
Ukraine’s air force said on Monday that Russia had fired 426 drones and 19 cruise missiles at the war-torn country overnight, as well as five of its hard-to-intercept Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles. Around 23 of the drones hit across three locations, while debris of intercepted uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) fell in 12 places, the air force said.
Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said: “Russia massively struck during the night at the housing, educational, and transport infrastructure,” hitting the capital, as well as the northeastern Kharkiv and the western Ivano-Frankivsk regions the hardest.
Two people were killed and another 15 injured, including a 12-year-old boy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement.
Kyiv authorities said one person had been killed in the region and another seven injured, including one child with shrapnel wounds. Local officials said multiple fires had broken out in several buildings, including a supermarket, a kindergarten, numerous warehouses and at least one residential building.
Svitlana Onyshchuk, a senior official in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, said Moscow had launched “a massive strike on the region” resulting in an unspecified number of casualties. Residential buildings were damaged in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk and other sites hit in the city of Horodenkivsk to the southeast, Onyshchuk said.
A total of 15 fires were reported across Ukraine, Klymenko said.
Strike drones fell in the southern Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, as well as the central Kirovohrad and Poltava regions, Khmelnytskyi in the west of Ukraine and Sumy, north of Kyiv, Zelensky said.
What People Are Saying
“Kyiv was subjected to a massive attack by enemy strike UAVs,” the capital’s regional military administration said in a statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday: “We must continue to scale up interceptors. This is the solution that will allow us to protect ourselves from massive attacks.”
Update 7/21/2025, 12:12 p.m. ET: This article was updated with a response from the Polish military.
NATO Scrambles Fighter Jets Amid Massive Russian Attack
Poland has been among NATO’s eastern flank members that have warned about the security risks posed by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Polish Defense Ministry told Newsweek that no Polish airspace was violated and that Swedish aircraft were also involved in the operation. The second deployment of Polish aircraft within a matter of days shows Warsaw’s concerns about the risk of Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine spilling over into alliance territory. This article has been updated with a statement from Poland’s Armed Forces from a statement released by the Polish Ministry of Defense on Saturday.Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content for the original translation. The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. would send its next Patriot air defense system to Germany rather than Berlin’s rather than Switzerland’s for the delivery of two Patriot batteries to Ukraine. For the second time in a week, NATO member Poland has scrambled its aircraft in response to a widespread Russian attack on Ukraine.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
For the second time in a week, NATO member Poland has scrambled its aircraft in response to a widespread Russian attack on Ukraine.
The Polish Ministry of Defense announced the operation overnight on Friday, which coincided with drones and missile strikes Russia launched against Ukraine’s cities.
On Saturday, the Polish Defense Ministry told Newsweek that no Polish airspace was violated and that Swedish aircraft were also involved in the operation.
This image from July 4, 2023, shows a Polish air force F-16 jetfighter in a NATO exercise. This image from July 4, 2023, shows a Polish air force F-16 jetfighter in a NATO exercise. JOHN THYS/Getty Images
Why It Matters
Poland has been among NATO’s eastern flank members that have warned about the security risks posed by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The second deployment of Polish aircraft within a matter of days shows Warsaw’s concerns about the risk of Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine spilling over into alliance territory.
What To Know
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched drones and missile on the regions of Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Zhytomyr.
As Russia launched the attacks, Poland’s Armed Forces said on X that it launched “all available forces and assets,” which included aircraft being scrambled and ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance being put on the “highest state of readiness.”
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The Polish Armed Forces told Newsweek in a statement that a pair of Polish and Swedish fighter jets on duty in Poland were scrambled.
This was to ensure the security of the country’s airspace and that ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were brought to the highest state of readiness, the statement added.
Seven days prior, Poland’s Armed Forces issued a similar statement, which said jets were scrambled and its forces put on full alert because of Russian strikes directed, “in particular, in the west of Ukraine,” which borders Poland.
When contacted by Newsweek, Poland’s Armed Forces said earlier in July that security considerations meant they could not provide further details.
Overnight on Friday, Ukraine targeted Moscow with drones, according to Russian authorities, marking the third night in a row that the Russian capital faced fire.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defense units intercepted 13 drones flying toward the capital just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, with eyewitnesses reporting some of the devices had been short down 23 miles northwest of the city.
What People Are Saying
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: “Our warriors from various units repelled another Russian attack. More than 300 strike drones and over 30 missiles of various types were launched against our cities.”
Poland’s Armed Forces wrote on X: “The Operational Command of the Armed Forces activated all the available forces and assets, scrambled fighter jets and placed ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance systems on the highest level of combat readiness.”
Poland’s Armed Forces told Newsweek on Saturday: “To ensure the security of our airspace, both Polish and allied aircraft were operational overnight.”
It added: “This included the scramble of a pair of Polish and Swedish fighter jets currently on duty in Poland. Additionally, ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems were brought to the highest state of readiness.
“These measures were taken to ensure the safety of areas bordering the regions under threat. There was no violation of Polish airspace.”
What Happens Next
Zelensky said that Friday’s attacks showed the need for Ukraine to work more closely with allies on weapons production and drone manufacturing—especially interceptor drones and air defense systems and missiles.
Meanwhile, Kyiv anticipates the delivery of U.S. weapons following pledges of support by U.S. President Donald Trump, via a NATO- and EU-backed plan in which alliance members purchase U.S.-made arms for Kyiv.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. would send its next Patriot air defense system to Germany rather than Switzerland to speed up Berlin’s promised delivery of two Patriot batteries to Ukraine.
Update 7/19/25, 6:52 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a statement from Poland’s Armed Forces.
NATO Jets Scrambled Amid Largest Russia Drone Attack On Ukraine
Poland scrambled its fighter jets and put its armed forces on the highest level of alert in response to the attack. Ukraine also fired drones into Russia overnight, killing three people in the Kursk border region, including a 5-year-old boy. Russia’s Defence Ministry said air defences downed 86 Ukrainian drones over six Russian regions overnight, including the Moscow region. US resumed deliveries of certain weapons, including 155 mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday. The attack comes at a time of increased uncertainty over the supply of crucial American weapons and as US-led peace efforts have stalled, officials said. Ukrainian officials on Wednesday said the latest Russian attack topped previous aerial and ground assaults in the three-year war.
“Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones were used — dozens of enemy targets were downed, and we are scaling up this technology. Mobile fire groups were also active – they downed dozens as well. I thank all our warriors for their precision,” he said.
The Ukrainian officials on Wednesday said the latest Russian attack topped previous aerial and ground assaults in the three-year war. Russia has recently sought to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defences by launching major attacks that include increasing numbers of decoy drones. The most recent one appeared aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s vital supply of Western weapons.
Lutsk, a city that’s home to airfields used by the Ukrainian army, was the hardest hit. It lies near the border with Poland in western Ukraine, a region that is a crucial hub for receiving foreign military aid.
Poland, a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), scrambled its fighter jets and put its armed forces on the highest level of alert in response to the attack, the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command wrote in an X post.
Beyond Lutsk, 10 more regions in Ukraine were struck. Officials said one person was killed in the Khmelnytskyi region, while two were wounded in the Kyiv region.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed its forces took aim at Ukrainian air bases, saying “all the designated targets have been hit.”
US Peace Efforts Stalled
The attack comes at a time of increased uncertainty over the supply of crucial American weapons and as US-led peace efforts have stalled. Zelenskyy said that the Kremlin was “making a point” with its barrage.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was “not happy” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hasn’t budged from his ceasefire and peace demands since Trump took office in January and began to push for a settlement.
On Monday, he said the US would have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after Washington paused critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv.
On Wednesday, the US resumed deliveries of certain weapons, including 155 mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity so they could provide details that hadn’t been announced publicly. It’s unclear exactly when the weapons started moving.
Ukraine’s Attack On Russia
Ukraine also fired drones into Russia overnight, killing three people in the Kursk border region, including a 5-year-old boy. Russia’s Defence Ministry said Wednesday that air defences downed 86 Ukrainian drones over six Russian regions overnight, including the Moscow region.
Flights were also temporarily suspended at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport and the international airport of Kaluga, south of Moscow.
The governor of Russia’s Kursk border region, Alexander Khinshtein, said a Ukrainian drone attack on the region’s capital city just before midnight killed three people and wounded seven others, including the 5-year-old boy who died on the way to a hospital.