NATO scrambled jets over Poland and Romania after Russia launched a major missile-and-drone assault on Ukraine, killing at least 10 people and cutting power across several regions. Moscow said it intercepted four US-made ATACMS over Voronezh while Ukraine reported heavy damage in Ternopil and Kharkiv. Romania and Poland both launched fighter jets after drones approached their airspace; eastern Polish airports were briefly closed. The attack coincides with diplomatic efforts involving President Zelensky and new U.S. and French arms support for Ukraine.
NATO Scrambles Jets Over Poland and Romania as Russia Launches Massive Missile-and-Drone Assault on Ukraine
NATO scrambled jets over Poland and Romania after Russia launched a major missile-and-drone assault on Ukraine, killing at least 10 people and cutting power across several regions. Moscow said it intercepted four US-made ATACMS over Voronezh while Ukraine reported heavy damage in Ternopil and Kharkiv. Romania and Poland both launched fighter jets after drones approached their airspace; eastern Polish airports were briefly closed. The attack coincides with diplomatic efforts involving President Zelensky and new U.S. and French arms support for Ukraine.
03:14 PM, 11/19/2025Conflict
At least 10 people were killed and many regions left without power after a large-scale Russian assault on Ukraine that used ballistic and cruise missiles alongside hundreds of drones. The strikes on Wednesday concentrated on western regions close to Poland and Romania and caused heavy damage to residential areas and energy infrastructure.
Russian officials said they intercepted four US-made ATACMS long-range missiles over Voronezh, roughly 200 km (124 miles) from the Ukrainian border; Ukraine has acknowledged firing such systems. Moscow described the intercept as occurring "deep within" Russian territory. The ATACMS have a range of up to 300 km (186 miles), and their earlier approval for Ukrainian use under the Biden administration has been viewed by Moscow as a significant escalation.
Casualties and Damage
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported nine fatalities in Ternopil after residential buildings were struck; overall tallies put the death toll at least 10. Dozens were wounded in Kharkiv, where drone strikes damaged apartment buildings and set multiple vehicles on fire. Attacks on energy facilities cut power to many communities across the country.
NATO Response and Airspace Incursions
Romania’s defense ministry said a Russian drone crossed into Romanian airspace over the Tulcea region, prompting the scramble of two NATO Eurofighter jets and later two Romanian F-16s. Poland’s operational command also dispatched allied fighters to protect Polish airspace, and eastern Polish airports in Rzeszow and Lublin were briefly closed to ensure freedom of operation for military aircraft before reopening.
Allied forces have increasingly launched intercepts in recent months when Russian munitions, drones or aircraft have neared or entered NATO airspace. In a notable episode in September, NATO jets shot down multiple Russian drones that violated Polish airspace, marking the first time NATO aircraft fired since the start of the war.
Context and Diplomatic Moves
The strikes came hours after President Zelensky arrived in Turkey to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as part of efforts to reinvigorate peace talks and arrange prisoner exchanges; Turkey has served as an important intermediary. The assault also follows tensions with Poland after Warsaw accused Russian services of being behind an "unprecedented" sabotage of a key railway line—an allegation Moscow denies.
Washington late Tuesday approved a potential $105 million sale to help Ukraine upgrade Patriot air-defense systems, a move intended to boost Ukraine’s local sustainment and defensive capabilities. Separately, Ukraine reached a deal to purchase up to 100 French-made Rafale fighters along with additional air-defence systems and drones.
What to Watch Next
Expect continued NATO air patrols and heightened military and diplomatic activity in the coming days as allies assess risks of spillover and respond to shifts in the battlefield. Civilian infrastructure repair, verification of casualty figures, and confirmation of cross-border incidents will remain immediate priorities for both Ukraine and neighboring NATO members.