NATO had to scrambled fighters as mad Vladimir Putin unleashed a barrage of nuclear-capable bombers and ballistic missiles on Ukraine.

Russia struck central Kyiv and other locations in brutal new strikes involving ballistic and cruises missiles, as well as kamikaze drones and aerial bombs.

This comes just one day after a Russian missile strike on Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown killed at least 19 people, including at least nine children in Kryvyi Rih – the Ukrainian leader’s hometown.

The latest horror attacks came as the dictator himself appears to have vanished, a habit when major or controversial events are unfolding.

It involved at least four Tu-95MS strategic bombers, with Putin’s forces unleashing deadly Kh101 missiles from over the Caspian Sea.

Ukraine and its Western allies in Europe believe the Putin strikes show he has no interest in Donald Trump’s overtures to agree a peace deal with Kyiv.

Instead he is launching some of the most intensive and sustained attacks of the entire three-year war, with Ukraine facing eight hours of hell in the latest blitzkrieg.

NATO early today raised war planes – both Polish and from other Allied members – to patrol air space bordering Ukraine in response to Russia’s threat.

“Attention – due to the intensive activity of the long-range aviation of the Russian Federation, performing strikes on objects located, among others, in the west of Ukraine, the operation of Polish and allied aviation in our airspace has begun,” said Poland’s command headquarters.

“The RSZ [armed forces] Operational Commander activated all available forces and resources at his disposal.

“On-call fighter pairs have been [scrambled], and ground-based air defence and radio-location reconnaissance systems have reached a state of highest readiness.

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

“The RSZ Operational Command is monitoring the current situation and subordinate forces and resources remain in full readiness for immediate response.”

As well as Kh-101 cruise missiles, Russia fired sea-based Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea, as well as Iskander-M missiles.

In Kyiv, the Russian attacks injured at least three as fires were seen in Darnytsia, Obolonskyi and Solomynskyi districts causing damage to residential buildings, warehouses and a furniture shop.

Multiple explosions hit the capital city from around ten ballistic missiles.

A multi-storey building was partially destroyed in the Obolonskyi district.

Residents fled to metro station bomb shelters in the savage new attacks with hundreds of firefighters forced to scramble to the city.

Russia also struck Uman, a city in Cherkasy region.

In Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, Russia aerial bombed an apartment block triggering fires, with a woman, 78, and man, 67, injured.