NATO warplanes were scrambled overnight in a dramatic show of force as Vladimir Putin launched a terrifying barrage of more than 500 missiles and drones across Ukraine.

The alliance sprang into action amid fears the Russian blitz could spill into neighbouring countries, with Poland confirming its fighter jets had been launched and its air defences placed on full alert.

The massive aerial assault, involving Tu-95 strategic bombers, MiG fighter jets, hypersonic Kinzhal ‘Dagger’ missiles, Iranian-designed Shahed drones and Iskander ballistic missiles, devastated swathes of Ukraine and triggered a desperate response from Kyiv’s air force.

Ukrainian officials said 475 of the 537 Russian aerial threats were shot down.

Poland’s operational command confirmed that NATO fighter jets were launched in response to the sheer scale of the Russian onslaught.

‘Due to the attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace,’ said a statement.

‘The Operational Commander of the [armed forces] has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal.

‘The on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness.

‘The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas.’

One ‘hero’ pilot was confirmed to have been killed in the crossfire.

Lt-Col Maksym Ustimenko, 32, was hailed a national hero after he single-handedly downed seven air targets before his aircraft was fatally struck.

‘The pilot used the entire complex of on-board weapons, and shot down seven air targets,’ said the Ukrainian air force.

‘During the last exercise, his plane was damaged and began to lose altitude.

‘Maksym Ustimenko did everything possible, took the plane away from a settlement, but did not have time to eject…

‘He died like a hero.’

The fallen pilot had been flying an American-made F-16.

The full-scale aerial assault, targeting cities from east to west, was described as one of the most powerful waves of airstrikes since Russia launched its invasion in 2022.

In Kremenchuk, apocalyptic scenes emerged after a former oil refinery was hit by a barrage of cruise missiles, hypersonic Kinzhal rockets, and suicide drones.

Meanwhile, a major industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia was set ablaze by a direct missile strike.

‘A production facility of one of the enterprises was damaged,’ confirmed Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration.

Mykolaiv and parts of the Donetsk region also suffered hits as the Kremlin’s forces continued to pound infrastructure sites across the country.

In the western city of Lviv, perilously close to NATO’s eastern flank, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian forces targeted critical infrastructure. But, no civilian homes or lives were lost.

In total 477 Shahed drones, four Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 41 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles were launched in a single night.