Ukraine on high alert: Russia launches cruise missile attacks, MiG-31K takes off
Air raid alert declared across Ukraine (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The night of October 16 began for Ukraine with a massive air raid alert covering the entire country. The military warned of Russian missile launches and the takeoff of a MiG-31K hypersonic weapons carrier, according to a post by the Ukrainian Air Forces on Telegram.
As of 5:21 a.m. Kyiv time on Thursday, a nationwide air raid alert was declared in Ukraine. The Air Force reported on Telegram that all regions face a missile threat.
The message stated: “ATTENTION! All of Ukraine – missile threat! MiG-31K takeoff detected.” This type of aircraft can carry Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, increasing the risk of simultaneous strikes in multiple directions.
Strikes and explosions across multiple regions
Monitoring channels reported that Poltava and Kremenchuk came under heavy combined attacks. According to sources, the enemy used ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones.
Local media report an explosion in Poltava, with similar reports coming from Kharkiv and Kropyvnytskyi. A series of powerful detonations was also recorded in Izium, likely caused by missile strikes.
Residents of the affected regions report air defense activity. Some cities are experiencing power outages, but official sources have not yet provided information on the consequences of the attacks.
By the morning of October 16, air raid alerts in western Ukraine began to be lifted. As of 6:05 a.m. Kyiv time, the alert map showed a gradual decrease in the threat level across most regions of the country.
Sweden is considering expanding its military support for Ukraine, including the transfer of radar reconnaissance and early warning aircraft, and potentially Gripen fighter jets in the future, which would strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
Meanwhile, in occupied Crimea, Russian security forces conducted another wave of searches and arrests among Crimean Tatars on October 15, including women and students. The Ukrainian side regards this as a continuation of systematic repression against the peninsula’s civilian population.
