VLADIMIR Putin has unleashed another night of hell over Ukraine with a 500 missile and drone onslaught.

Nato was forced to scramble its warplanes after the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was hit in an apocalyptic blast to an oil refinery. 

The city was attacked simultaneously by Putin’s forces with cruise missiles, Kinzhal – our Dagger – hypersonic missiles, and Iranian-designed  Shahed attack drones.

It was the most powerful onslaught on the city since the start of the war. 

Ukraine claimed to have downed 475 out of 537 aerial targets – an astonishing success rate, many by its air force pilots. 

The Russian strikes involved Tu-95 strategic bombers and MiG aircraft.

Poland’s operational command announced that NATO fighters were scrambled because of  the intensity of Russian onslaught on Ukraine. 

“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.”

The attacks were across the country and amounted to one of the heaviest bombardments of the three year conflict.

A missile strike on Zaporizhzhia left an industrial facility on fire. 

“A production facility of one of the enterprises was damaged,” said Ivan Fedorov, head of the regional military administration.

Mykolaiv and Donetsk region were hit. 

The NATO defence moves came after the Russians targeted Lviv in western Ukraine. 

Mayor Andriy Sadovyi  said Russian forces attempted to strike critical infrastructure, but no civilians or residential buildings were affected.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia had unleashed 537 missiles and drones including 477 Hashed drones. 

Four Kinzhal and seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles were fired at Ukraine. 

The blitzkrieg also included 41 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles.

A Ukrainian F-16 supersonic fighter supplied by the West was shot down with the loss of a “hero” pilot amid a desperate operation to counter 500-plus strikes by Vladimir Putin’s forces.

Pilot Lt-Col Maksym Ustimenko, born in 1993, shot down seven air targets using all his weapons before he was hit. 

“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!”