Russian forces launched 209 strike drones against Ukraine overnight on 19 May, targeting residential areas of Kharkiv among multiple locations across the country. Two successive drone strikes hit the Kholodnohirskyi and Novobavarska districts of Kharkiv, damaging more than 25 private homes and one multi-storey building and injuring three people, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov and Kharkiv Regional Military Administration head Oleh Syniehubov.
Russia has steadily expanded its air war on Ukrainian civilians since 2022, even as its ground advances slow. Moscow launches 100-200 long-range drones most nights, targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Yesterday saw an unusual 753-drone daytime attack, followed by last night's combined assault.
The strikes
Syniehubov confirmed the attacks in a statement: "Enemy UAV strikes were recorded in the Kholodnohirskyi and Novobavarska districts."
The first strike hit a civilian infrastructure object in Novobavarska district, triggering a fire, Terekhov reported. Around 5 am, Russian forces struck the same district a second time. Two private homes caught fire and more than ten others were damaged in the second attack.
Terekhov reported that two people were rescued from one of the burning homes. "One person may still be under the rubble — search and rescue operations are under way," he said.
Syniehubov identified two of the casualties: a 47-year-old man injured by broken glass and a 50-year-old woman who suffered acute stress reaction. Terekhov later confirmed a total of three injured across both strikes.
Emergency services were working at all impact sites as damage assessments continued.
The wider attack
Ukraine's Air Force reported that the overnight assault involved 209 Shahed-type drones, including jet-propelled variants, as well as Herber, Italmas, and Parody-type decoy drones. By 8:30 am, air defence had destroyed or suppressed 180 of them across the north, south, and east of the country. Strike drones hit 15 locations, with debris falling on five more. The attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, drone units, and mobile fire groups of Ukraine's Defence Forces. Several enemy drones remained airborne as of that time.
In Kryvyi Rih, a woman was injured and several residential buildings were damaged in a morning drone strike on the Tsentralno-Miskyi district. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, confirmed: "As a result of the Shahed attack in the Tsentralno-Miskyi district, one woman was injured and is currently receiving the necessary assistance. Several buildings were damaged. The consequences are being clarified."
Russian forces also struck port infrastructure in the Izmail district of Odesa region overnight.
