Ruthless Putin blasts Kyiv with nuclear-capable ballistic missiles in ‘revenge’ bombardment as Nato scrambles warplanes
VLADIMIR Putin last night launched an enormous nuclear-capable missile in a savage strike on Ukraine, as Nato scrambled warplanes to defend against the dictator.
Volodymyr Zelensky accused ageing tyrant Putin of “madness” after the strikes pummelled the Kyiv and surrounding areas, killing four and injuring dozens.
The Oreshnik is a ballistic missile with a huge range of several thousand kilometres that can carry nukes – it did not have a nuclear warhead attached when it was launched towards the Ukrainian capital yesterday.
But the huge missile did unleash a fast-moving flurry of warheads on Bila Tserkva, a town 56 miles south of the Ukrainian capital.
Apocalyptic scenes were pictured on the streets of Kyiv as attacks killed at least four people and injured around 84.
Three more people are fighting for their lives in hospital after the strikes.
Children were among the injured as every district of Kyiv was hit.
More than 40 confirmed strikes devastated a market, the Kvadrat shopping centre, and at least 10 blocks of flats.
Terrifying videos showed massive blazes burning and enormous pillars of smoke billowing after the strikes.
A top Ukrainian defence staffer fumed: “They launched a nuclear missile without a nuclear warhead to scare us and the world. Idiots.”
The Russian strikes involved Tu-95MS nuclear-capable bombers, more than 50 missiles and 700 drones.
The onslaught appeared to be a revenge attack for a huge blitz on Friday when Ukraine targeted an elite Russian command centre in the occupied Luhansk region.
The Kremlin claimed at least six people were killed and a further 39 injured in the overnight strike, and Putin was reportedly preparing “proposals” on how to retaliate.
Zelensky slammed Mad Vlad and urged Ukrainians to take shelter, demanding: “This war must be ended – peace is needed, not missiles to satisfy the sick ambitions of one person.”
French air force planes were scrambled in Polish airspace as Nato responded to Putin’s latest bombardment.
A statement from Warsaw read: “Due to the activity of long-range Russian aircraft carrying out air strikes on Ukrainian territory, military aircraft are operating in our airspace.”
“The Command of the Operational Forces of the Armed Forces has activated the necessary forces and assets at its disposal.
“Ground-based air defence and radar detection systems have been placed on alert.”
In the aftermath of the strike, Zelensky mocked the raving Russian leader.
The Ukrainian president said: “He launched his Oreshnik against Bila Tserkva. They are genuinely deranged.
“It is important that this does not remain without consequences for Russia.”
The missile’s name means hazel tree in Russian – indicating nuts.
Zelensky, who had a successful career as a comedian before he was elected president of Ukraine, implied Putin, 73, is an “old nutter”.
