NATO warplanes were scrambled early today as Putin launched a “barbaric” wave of missiles and drones at Ukraine.

The “vile” Easter onslaught has been carried out closer than ever to the border of the NATO territory.

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Some 99 missiles and kamikaze drones have bombarded the western and central Ukraine in an intense attack which caused a significant damage.

A total of 58 of them were shot down by Ukrainian forces including four Iskander-M missiles.

Fragments of drones have been found in Romania on a farm near the border with Ukraine, the defence ministry reported.

Putin’s forces have deliberately targeted Ukrainian power plants and civilian infrastructure, leaving many without electricity.

Operational Command of Poland’s Armed Forces said: “We warn you that Polish and Allied aircraft have been activated in the Polish airspace.

“Intensive long-range aviation activity of the Russian Federation is being observed.”

Power stations were hit in Stryi, Lviv region, and Burshtyn, Ivano-Frankivsk region, both in the direction of NATO and EU state Poland.

Gas storage facilities were damaged in the Lviv region while generating facilities were struck in Dnipropetrovsk region where electricity outages were reported.

Explosions have been recorded in Kharkiv, Khmelnystskyi and Dnipro overnight.

British ambassador Martin Harris said: “Russia is stepping up its vile attacks on Ukraine’s cities and citizens this Easter.

“My Good Friday began in the bunker.”

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