MOSCOW/WARSAW/KYIV - Russian forces carried out a "massive strike" on Ukraine's military-industrial complex, energy facilities and port infrastructure, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.
The strike was in response to Ukraine's overnight attacks on Russia's civilian objects, said the ministry, adding that the strike involved long-range high-precision air- and ground-based weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier in the day that rescue efforts were underway in numerous regions following Russia's attacks.
Zelensky said Russia launched over 650 drones and 51 missiles targeting multiple regions, with injuries reported. He added that the main targets were energy facilities.
Poland scrambles jets
Meanwhile, Poland scrambled jets to safeguard national airspace following Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said early Saturday.
Poland had activated necessary forces, with fighter jets airborne and ground-based air defense and radar systems placed on alert, the command said on social media platform X. The measures were described as preventive, aimed at ensuring airspace security, particularly near potentially threatened areas.
ALSO READ: State Department: US, Ukraine agree on security framework
The command later announced that the operation was concluded and that the systems were returned to normal, with no violation of Polish airspace detected.
Local authorities reported air-raid sirens in Lubartow in eastern Poland after receiving a signal from the crisis management center.
Frozen Russian assets as Ukraine aid
In another development, Britain is considering unlocking 8 billion pounds ($11 billion) of frozen Russian assets as aid to Ukraine, the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Friday.
According to the report, Britain is working with Canada and some other countries, as well as the European Union (EU), on a deal that could release up to $130 billion for Ukraine.
READ MORE: Britain sanctions Russian intelligence agency over Novichok poisoning
These funds could cover more than two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs over the next two years - for defense or for reconstruction if peace is achieved, the report said.
