NATO scrambles warplanes as Putin's forces launch heaviest strikes in months

has scrambled warplanes in what's been described an act of self defence amid heaviest strikes on in months.

These deadly Russian strikes killed at least eight innocent civilians, including three children, early on Sunday morning. Dozens were wounded in the crushing overnight strikes, in the clearest proof yet that appears to show Putin has no interest in Donald Trump's . Amid dictator Putin's savage attacks, military high command announced it had "activated all available forces and resources" on NATO’s eastern flank.

Ukraine's western neighbour said: "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."

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The Kremlin blitzed multiple Ukrainian cities, killing three people in Kyiv and wounding at least 26 in the capital. A student dormitory in Kyiv was also brutally hit in last nights deadly attacks.

In Khmelnytskyi region, at least four people were killed and five injured in these overnight strikes. Six homes were wiped out and dozens more were left damaged.

In Zhytomyr region, the Russian blitzkrieg killed three children - aged 8, 12 and 17 - and another 12 people were injured, with houses destroyed and damaged.

A strike in the southern city of Mykolaiv left people trapped under rubble after the upper floors of a residential block were destroyed. One woman was killed and a 20-year-old was left fighting for her life in intensive care following the barbaric Shahed drone strike.

Other cities attacked overnight included Kharvik and Odesa. The mayor of Konotop described the aerial invasion as the largest since World War Two.

was also hit hard by Ukrainian strikes, forcing the Kremlin to launch it's own air defence systems to shoot at, and miss, an Airbus A320-251N packed with its own tourists from Turkish resort Bodrum, according to reports. And at least ten Russian government aircraft used for high-ranking state and military officials fled Moscow flying east.

It was not immediately clear if the exodus was a drill for an emergency evacuation, or the real thing, amid an onslaught from Ukrainian drones which led to the temporary closures of major Moscow airports.

There was no official comment as one report stated: "The mass departure of government planes from Moscow may indicate training to evacuate top leadership." Russia claimed 110 Ukrainian drones had been shot down over its territory.

The latest carnage adds to growing evidence that Putin is engaged in ever stronger attacks on Ukraine, rather than working towards peace - which US President Trump has demanded. This is likely as a prelude to a major summer offensive seeking to grab new territory in on Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipro regions beginning next month.

Up to 50,000 Russian troops are being prepared for an advance, according to reports.