Russian drones struck apartment buildings in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, injuring 32 people, including two children, and sparking fires that forced dozens of residents to flee their homes, regional officials said.
According to preliminary reports, 19 drones were launched by Russian forces at the Slobidskyi, Osnovianskyi, and Nemyslianskyi districts after midnight, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Six of the wounded were hospitalized.
The attacks damaged at least 10 civilian vehicles, a nearby house, garages, an office roof, and a supermarket. Ukrainian rescuers evacuated 48 people, including three children, from a smoke-filled stairwell of a multi-storey building.
A firefighter puts out the fire in burning cars near the apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine November 19, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova
Photos released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service showed crumpled cars, twisted metal, and damaged apartment blocks as rescuers guided residents to safety. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said one drone struck near a medical facility, injuring a doctor and damaging the building and surrounding cars.
“I heard the Shahed drone getting closer… I was literally pushed into the hallway by the blast wave,” said 22-year-old student Danilo Bondarev, a resident of one of the affected buildings. “It’s just a residential area, there’s only a school and a kindergarten here, and there’s absolutely nothing else.”
Kharkiv, located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border, repelled Russian forces during the early weeks of Russia’s February 2022 invasion. Since then, the city has endured near-daily missile and drone strikes on residential districts and infrastructure.
There was no immediate comment from Russia regarding the attacks. Both sides deny targeting civilians, although thousands have died in the nearly four-year conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainians.
A medical worker evacuates a child from the apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine in this handout picture released November 19, 2025. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region/Handout via REUTERS
Meanwhile, Russia reported that Ukrainian forces fired four U.S.-made ATACMS missiles at the southern Russian city of Voronezh, attempting to hit civilian targets. Russia said its S-400 air defense and Pantsir missile systems intercepted all missiles. Falling debris damaged a retirement home, an orphanage, and a house, but no casualties were reported. Russia also claimed to have struck Ukrainian rocket launchers with Iskander-M missiles in response.
Earlier on Wednesday, Poland and allied aircraft were deployed to secure Polish airspace after Russia launched airstrikes targeting western Ukraine near the border. Ukrainian air raid alerts were in effect across nearly all of Ukraine by 0400 GMT, following warnings of missile and drone attacks.
