Explosions rocked Ukrainian cities overnight on 18–19 November as Russia launched a massive wave of missile and drone attacks across the country. Local authorities reported that the coordinated Russian strikes killed 16 civilians in Ternopil, injured more than 100 others nationwide, and damaged critical energy infrastructure, forcing emergency power outages in multiple oblasts.
Energy infrastructure targeted across seven oblasts
Russia focused heavily on Ukraine’s power grid in its latest barrage. The Ministry of Energy confirmed that infrastructure in at least seven oblasts—Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, and Donetsk—was damaged. Emergency blackouts were introduced in several of these regions.
In one case, a DTEK energy company crew came under direct attack while working at a facility, resulting in five injuries.
“One energy worker is in critical condition, and four others suffered concussion and shrapnel wounds,” the company said.
Restoration efforts were ongoing across affected oblasts as of the morning, according to Ukraine's Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
Ternopil: 16 civilians killed, chlorine level warning issued
Ternopil suffered the highest number of casualties, as Russia targeted the city with both drones and missiles. Two nine-story residential buildings were struck by missiles, collapsing upper floors and causing fires. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the Russian strike killed 10 civilians and injured 37 others, including 12 children. Later, Mayor Serhii Nadal said that the death toll has risen to 12.
Update: Local police say that as of 12:00, 19 people have been killed and 64 injured in Ternopil. Fourteen children are among the injured.
Some victims were trapped under rubble, with rescue operations continuing through the morning, according to the minister.
Nearly 500 emergency responders, supported by canine teams and engineers, were deployed to rescue survivors. Mobile coordination centers and psychological support units were also operating on-site.
Local authorities issued a health warning, reporting that chlorine levels in the air were six times above safe limits and advising residents to stay indoors.
Kharkiv hit by 19 Shahed drones, dozens injured
In Kharkiv, Russian forces launched 19 Shahed-type drones at residential areas overnight, injuring 46 people, including two girls aged 9 and 13. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported widespread damage in Slobidskyi and Osnovianskyi districts of the city. The blasts damaged 16 apartment buildings, a supermarket, two trolleybuses, a school, a medical substation, an administrative building, and dozens of vehicles.
Across Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces also targeted energy infrastructure, the railway in Lozova, and a private residence in Starovirivka. Kharkiv Oblast Head Oleh Syniehubov said the Russians used five more Shaheds outside the regional capital, as well as 27 more drones of various types, a guided bomb, and artillery in the assaults.
Other oblasts report damage and injuries
In Lviv Oblast, missiles and drones struck an energy facility, a lumber processing plant, and a warehouse. Smoke from burning tires at civilian storage sites blanketed parts of Lviv city, prompting warnings to keep windows shut. Local authorities reported no casualties in the oblast.
In Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, explosions were recorded in Burshtyn, home to a major thermal power station. Regional head Svitlana Onyshchuk confirmed that the Russians hit energy infrastructure and injured three people, including two children. One household was damaged.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, acting oblast chief Vladyslav Haivanenko confirmed seven civilians were injured in multiple Russian strikes. Three people were hurt in Nikopol, while four others were wounded in Pavlohrad district. Russian attacks damaged a school, gas station, apartment buildings, a poultry facility, and energy lines. In Synelnykove district, several homes were destroyed or damaged by guided aerial bombs.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 42-year-old and a 60-year-old man were injured when a Russian airstrike hit the village of Vozdvyzhivka, damaging several residential homes.
In Donetsk Oblast, the Russian strikes over the past 24 hours killed a Kostiantynivka resident, and injured four other civilians across the region, the local authorities said.
Russia killed two and injured four people in Kherson Oblast.
No casualties were reported in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy, or Khmelnytskyi oblasts, although blasts were recorded in some areas. The Mykolaiv Oblast Administrations said the air defense units neutralized 10 Russian drones in the region last night.
In Chernihiv Oblast, a drone hit a private residence, narrowly missing two elderly women. Later, another Russian drone targeted an energy facility, according to the local authorities.
In Cherkasy Oblast, the regional administration said the air defenders intercepted 10 missiles and 17 drones; although no one was injured, power lines and a building were damaged.
Romanian and Polish air forces scrambled
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense reported that a Russian drone crossed 8 kilometers into Romanian airspace near the border with Ukraine, from Vylkove toward Periprava and Chilia Veche, "where it disappeared from radar." German Eurofighter Typhoons and Romanian F-16s were scrambled from NATO bases in response. An air alert warning was issued in two Romanian counties, and radar signals of the drone were tracked for nearly 12 minutes.
"No cases of any aerial vehicle impacting the ground have been reported. Specialist teams are prepared to begin on-site searches," the Ministry said.
Poland also raised its alert level. The country’s Operational Command says Poland activated air defense and radar surveillance systems, scrambling fighter jets and an early-warning aircraft "due to an attack by the Russian Federation, which is carrying out strikes on targets located on the territory of Ukraine." Polish forces emphasized the actions were preventive due to proximity to the impacted zones.
Zelenskyy demands more air defenses after deadly attack
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the overnight assault, noting the strikes killed 12 in Ternopil and wounded dozens more across Ukraine. He stressed that Russia’s goal remains to inflict pain and destruction on civilians.
“Each brazen attack on ordinary life proves that pressure on Russia is still insufficient. Effective sanctions and support for Ukraine can change this,” he said.
Zelenskyy called for more air defense missiles, drone systems, and combat aviation support to protect Ukraine’s skies and infrastructure. He urged international allies to respond with stronger sanctions and defense supplies.
Air Force: 524 targets launched, 483 intercepted
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 524 aerial threats from the evening of 18 November into the next morning. These included 476 drones—mostly Shahed—and 48 missiles of various types. 40 of the missiles were air-lainched Kh-101. Launch points included Russian territory and occupied Crimea.
Air defenses intercepted or suppressed 483 targets: 442 drones, 34 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and all 7 Kalibr missiles. Despite this, 7 missiles and 34 drones reached their targets, with confirmed hits in at least 14 locations and debris falling in six others. The Air Force said the primary focus of the strike was on Ternopil, Kharkiv, and Lviv oblasts. The assault was repelled using aviation, anti-aircraft units, mobile fire teams, and electronic warfare systems.
According to the Air Force, the attack was ongoing as of the time of the reporting (9:03), with several enemy drones still in Ukrainian airspace.
