Russian bombers target multiple Ukrainian cities

Key Points
  • Russia launched over 24 cruise missiles against Ukraine on November 19, targeting western regions including Ternopil, Lviv, Dnipro, and Burshtyn.
  • A residential building in Ternopil was destroyed, with two confirmed fatalities as of initial reports.

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone strike on multiple regions in Ukraine early on the morning of November 19, causing civilian casualties and structural damage, including the destruction of a residential building in Ternopil.

According to Ukrainian authorities, explosions were reported in the Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Lviv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions beginning shortly before dawn. Ukrainian air defense forces responded to what officials described as a multi-vector attack involving strategic bombers and cruise missiles.

“Russia is attacking Ukraine with drones and missiles,” Ukrainian media reported, citing local officials and eyewitnesses.

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One of the most severe impacts occurred in Ternopil, where a multi-story residential building was destroyed. Emergency services confirmed nine fatalities as of the early morning hours, warning that the death toll may rise as debris is cleared.

“A multi-story building was destroyed in Ternopil as a result of a Russian attack on the morning of November 19,” local officials said. “At this time, two dead are confirmed, but that number may increase as the remains of the building are removed.”

The Ukrainian military said more than 48 cruise and ballistic missiles were launched by Russia, targeting infrastructure and population centers in western and central parts of Ukraine. The missiles reportedly included both sea-launched and air-launched types.

For the strike, strategic bombers, including the Tu-160 and Tu-95, were used. These aircraft are capable of launching long-range Kh-101 and Kh-555 cruise missiles.

The main directions of attack, according to Ukrainian assessments, included Burshtyn, Ternopil, Lviv, Dnipro, and other territorial communities in the western part of the country.

Video footage shared by local media and residents shows plumes of smoke and flashes consistent with missile impacts. Emergency responders were seen working at multiple sites to assess damage and search for survivors.

The Ukrainian Air Force has not yet confirmed the number of intercepted missiles or drones during the attack. However, this operation represents one of the largest aerial assaults on the western part of Ukraine in recent weeks, underscoring the continued vulnerability of cities and infrastructure far from the front lines.

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