Russian air strikes hit Ukraine, forcing Poland and its allies to lock down the skies

Russia launched air strikes in western Ukraine early Sunday, raining missiles and drones on the Lviv region near the Polish border — forcing the NATO country to scramble jets to lock down its skies.

Lviv — only 43 miles from Poland — was pounded for hours overnight by missiles and Russian drones as air defenses fired furiously in all directions to fend off the attack, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said.

A witness told The Post the latest strike is “definitely the worst hit in Liviv since the beginning of the war.”

“We’ve been under a massive attack for about 4 hours now, and it still continues,” the Lviv source said.

“Drones, and two types of cruise missiles have been uses. Countless explosions were heard throughout these 4 hours and it continues even now. Black smoke and a putrid odor covers the city, as air defense is still active and the buzz of drones are heard even this moment.”

Polish officials said they ramped up air patrols after suspected Russian drones were recently spotted over several NATO countries.

“Polish and allied aircraft are operation in our airspace, while ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have been brought to the highest state of readiness,” Poland’s operational command said in a post on X early Sunday.

“These actions are preventive in nature and are aimed at securing the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened region.”

NATO’s eastern allies have been on high alert after Poland shot down Russian drones in September, while other sightings and airspace breachers sparked chaos from Copenhagen to Munich.

Poland claimed that 19 to 23 Russian drones entered its airspace and that at least four of them were shot down on Sept. 9.

Estonia said NATO intercepted three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets that flew into its airspace without permission and stayed there for about 12 minutes.

Days after that, Romania claimed that a Russian drone also entered its airspace.

After the string of airspace violations, President Trump warned the US would step in to protect Poland an the Baltic states if Russia’s aggression escalates.

With Post wires.