Kiev, November 19 (Adnkronos/Afp) – Massive attack by Russia against Ukraine overnight. A large-scale attack occurred in the city of Kharkiv, leaving at least 46 people injured. But in the early hours of today the entire territory of Ukraine was on air alert: the authorities of several cities in the west of the country invited their citizens to pay maximum attention. “The enemy is attacking western Ukraine with drones. Don’t ignore this warning! Stay in shelters,” wrote Lviv’s mayor on Telegram.
Nine people were killed in attacks launched by Russia in the west of the country. This was announced by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke of “470 drones and 48 missiles of various types”, launched from Moscow against Ukraine during the night, “one ballistic and the rest cruise”. “In Ternopil, a nine-story residential building was destroyed and caused a fire. Unfortunately, the damage is extensive and there may be people trapped under the rubble. All emergency services are available on site, in an effort to save every life. Currently, dozens of people are injured and, unfortunately, 9 people have lost their lives. My condolences to their families,” read the message posted on X.
“There was also a massive attack, which started at night, on our Kharkiv. Dozens of people were injured in the city, including children. Power plants, transport and civil infrastructure were damaged,” continued Zelensky who is in Turkey.
“Our energy infrastructure in the Ivano-Frankivsk region was also attacked,” he continued. “Three people were injured, including two children. In the Lviv region, critical infrastructure and a power plant were targeted. One person was injured in the Donetsk region. Kiev, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Dnipro regions were also attacked.”
“Every attack aimed at everyday life shows that the pressure on Russia is still insufficient. Sanctions and effective assistance to Ukraine can change this situation. The top priorities are air defense missiles, auxiliary systems, expanding our combat aviation capabilities and producing drones to protect human life. Russia must be held accountable for its actions and we must remain focused on everything that strengthens us and allows us to shoot down Russian missiles, neutralize Russian drones and stop attacks. Thank you to everyone who helps us around the world,” he concluded.
In Kharkiv, drones were directed at the city’s Slobidsky and Osnovyansky districts. The attack damaged “more than ten buildings,” according to messages posted on Telegram. Police in the city said the latest overnight attack damaged more than 10 residential buildings, a school, a supermarket and an ambulance depot. Two children aged nine and thirteen were among the injured, police said, adding that “doctors diagnosed an acute stress reaction in the minor.” Rescuers and police evacuated 48 people, including three children, from the smoke-filled entrance of the high-rise building, regional emergency services spokesman Yevgen Vasylenko reported.
Four US-made ATACMS missiles, launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against targets in Voronezh, were intercepted yesterday by the S-400 and Pantsir missile systems reported the Russian Defense Ministry, adding that “debris falling from the destroyed missiles damaged the roofs of the Voronezh Regional Gerontological Center and an orphanage, as well as private homes. There were no casualties or injuries among civilians.”
Russian air defense systems also intercepted and destroyed 65 Ukrainian drones during the night over Russian territory and the waters of the Azov and Black Seas. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense in Moscow, stating that 16 drones were shot down over the waters of the Black Sea, 14 in the Voronezh region, 14 in the Krasnodar region, 11 in Belgorod, 9 over the waters of the Sea of Azov and 1 in the Bryansk region.”
And as Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continue, Axios – citing US and Russian officials – claims that the White House and Moscow are quietly working on proposals to end the war.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev will discuss the 28-point peace plan in depth, a US official said on condition of anonymity. Dmitriev described the secret peace agreement optimistically, saying that, unlike in the past, “we believe that Russia’s position was actually heard.”
The secret peace deal reportedly focuses on peace in Ukraine, security in Europe, security guarantees and the United States’ future relations with Kiev and Moscow.
Dmitriev met with Witkoff and other high-level members of the White House administration in Miami from October 24 to 26, the Russian official told Axios. “This is actually a much bigger picture, which basically talks about how to finally secure Europe in a lasting way, and not just Ukraine,” Dmitriev said.
Both sides hope to produce a written document before the next meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dmitriev said, adding that a summit in Budapest was still out of the question.
