KYIV — Ukrainian rescuers pulled eight people, including a child, from the wreckage of buildings flattened in Russia’s massive overnight barrage on the capital region. The assault targeted energy infrastructure in the southern Odesa region as well, sparking large fires that emergency crews later contained.

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported the attack involved nearly 50 missiles—22 of them ballistic—plus 297 drones of various types. A substantial number were intercepted, he said on X, crediting daily supplies of air defense missiles from Ukraine’s partners. ‘Protection is needed every day,’ Zelensky posted.

The strikes lit up Sofievskaya Borshchagovka in the Kyiv suburbs and damaged sites across five districts. A house owned by former parliamentary speaker Dmytro Razumkov also took a direct hit, according to officials.

Poland, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, reacted swiftly. Warsaw confirmed it scrambled Polish and allied fighter jets, along with an early warning aircraft. Ground-based air defenses and radar systems went to their highest alert status, the Polish Armed Forces’ Operational Commander announced.

‘Due to the activity of long-range Russian air forces conducting strikes on Ukrainian territory, Polish and allied air forces have begun operating in our airspace,’ the statement read. ‘In accordance with applicable procedures, the necessary forces and resources have been activated.’

Reports indicated Russia deployed Tsirkon hypersonic missiles alongside Kh-22s, Iskanders and drones in the coordinated operation. NATO forces across Europe went on high alert as the Russian air activity spilled toward allied territory.

The barrage unfolded as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, hinted at a possible peace summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky. Witkoff pointed to leadership-level hurdles as the main barrier. ‘At the leadership levels, it’s hard for them to finish off making a deal,’ he said.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service detailed the human toll in Kyiv. Rescue teams worked through the night amid blazing structures. In Odesa, strikes on power facilities caused widespread fires, but responders extinguished them without immediate casualty reports from that area.

Zelensky’s office emphasized the scale of the defense effort. Interceptors downed many incoming threats, though damage assessments continued Monday. No full tally of deaths emerged yet, but the rescues offered a rare note of relief amid the destruction.

Polish officials stressed the scramble followed standard protocols for Russian long-range incursions. Fighter pairs patrolled Polish airspace, backed by radar sweeps and missile defenses. The alert level matched the most intense seen since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

European NATO allies routinely rotate air policing missions over the alliance’s eastern flank. Sunday’s response underscored the hair-trigger readiness along the Ukraine border. No Russian aircraft breached Polish airspace, officials said, but the proximity demanded immediate action.

Witkoff’s comments came amid U.S. transition talks on Ukraine policy. Trump has pledged quick resolutions to the war, though details remain vague. Zelensky has pushed for strong security guarantees in any settlement.