 "Representational image. Reuters")
According to sources, Russian planes attacked the western region of Lviv and the capital city of Kyiv early on Sunday. Polish military were also ordered to stand by.
“Explosions in the capital. Air defence is working. Do not leave shelters,” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram.
The Stryi district, south of the city of Lviv and close to the Polish border, is also the target of attacks, according to Maksym Kozytskyi, regional governor of Lviv.
A national air warning was previously issued for Ukraine, alerting people to the possibility of Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers launching cruise missiles.
According to the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command (RSZ), the missile assaults in Ukraine and the “intensive long-range aviation activity of the Russian Federation tonight” have put the Polish military forces on high alert.
“All necessary procedures to ensure the security of Polish airspace have been activated and the RSZ is monitoring the situation continuously,” it said.
The RSZ also said “Polish and allied aircraft have been activated”.
Russia and Ukraine have increased their air attacks in recent weeks.
Kyiv, which has struggled to find weapons and soldiers after more than two years of war, has promised to retaliate by taking the fighting to Russian soil.
Moscow has responded by escalating its own strikes, firing dozens of missiles on Friday and launching dozens of explosive drones to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.