Poland and Romania scramble jets as Russia bombards Ukraine: Latest

 Poland and Romania scrambled Nato fighter jets early on Wednesday as a series of explosions rang out across western Ukraine.

In Poland, two airports in its southeast were shut down as Russian airstrikes targeted the cities of Lviv and Ternopil. The Polish military said it was forced to act to ensure the safety of Polish airspace.

Romania scrambled two Eurofighters and two Romanian F-16 fighter jets as it warned citizens in the southeastern counties of Tulcea and Galati to take cover, the ministry said.

A drone had breached its airspace by 8 km, but there were no reports of a drone hitting the ground in Romanian territory.

This comes as Donald Trump’s administration was reported by Axios to be working in secret with Russia on a new 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine, which would consist of "security guarantees, security in Europe, and future US relations with Russia and Ukraine”.

US envoy Steve Witkoff has discussed the plan with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Volodymyr Zelensky's security adviser Rustem Umerov, according to Washington and Kyiv officials.

Mr Witkoff will meet Mr Zelensky later on Wednesday in Turkey.

Key Points

Romania scrambles jets after drone breaches airspace

Nine killed as Russia fires 518 drones and missiles in huge overnight attack

Poland scrambles jets after Russian strikes on Ukraine, Polish armed forces say

Poland says airports in Rzeszow and Lublin resume operations

Moscow says Kyiv used US-made ATACMS missile in Voronezh strike

External power line to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant restored, says Russian management

10:54 , Alex Croft

One of the external power lines to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine was restored on Wednesday, the Russian-installed management said in a statement.

The nuclear plant, Europe's largest, has been under Russian control since March 2022, when Russian forces overran much of southeastern Ukraine. It is not currently producing electricity but relies on external power to keep the nuclear material cool and avoid the risk of a meltdown.

The Dniprovska power line was returned to operation after being disconnected earlier this month by the plant's protective systems, the statement said.

The plant remains near the frontlines of the war, and Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling it on a number of occasions.

It was without external power supply for 30 days through late September and most of October, relying on diesel generators.

Russian spy ship approached UK waters near Scotland, says Healey

10:28 , Alex Croft

Defence secretary John Healey said the Russian spy ship Yantar was operating on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland and had directed lasers at pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its activities.

He told a Westminster press conference: “My message to Russia and to Putin is this: We see you. We know what you’re doing. And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.”

Mr Healey also said the UK “must step up” in a “new era of hard power”, saying that the “world is changing. It is less predictable. It is more dangerous”.

He added: “In the last year alone, we’ve seen the Israel-Iran war bring the Middle East close to the very brink, armed conflict break out between India and Pakistan, Chinese spies targeting our democracy at home, Putin escalate still further his war in Ukraine.

“And in just this last year, we’ve also seen Europe’s skies plagued by drone disruptions, we’ve seen Russian incursions into Nato airspace double and we’ve seen 90,000 cyber attacks on the UK defence system alone.”

Poland will respond to railway sabotage, minister says

10:10 , Alex Croft

Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Wednesday that Poland will respond to last weekend's railway sabotage, not only by diplomatic means.

He added that he will inform about Poland's response "in the next few days".

An explosion damaged a Polish railway track near Mika village, a route crucial for delivering aid to Ukraine, with Warsaw saying it was the work of a “foreign state”.

Polish authorities have since said that two Ukrainian nationals collaborating with Russian intelligence were responsible for an explosion on the railway track used to transport weapons to Ukraine.

Large-scale fire breaks out in Lviv after Russian strikes

09:49 , Alex Croft

A large-scale fire has broken out in Lviv following a Russian strike early on Wednesday morning, amid its huge air attack on western Ukraine.

An energy facility, woodworking business, and warehouse have all been damaged

“There is a big fire in Lviv. It will take several hours to put out the fire. Close your windows as the air may be polluted,” city authorities warned,” said Ihor Zinkevych, a member of Lviv City Council.

Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the region’s military administration, said that “emergency power outages have been introduced in the Lviv region”.

He added: “This is a forced step due to the fact that the enemy attacked a number of energy facilities throughout the country.

“If the system cannot be stabilized quickly, unfortunately, hourly outage schedules will have to be applied.”