Death toll rises to 38 in Russian attack on Ukraine’s Ternopil

The death toll from the Russian missile and drone strike on Ternopil, Ukraine, on November 19 has risen to 38, according to local police.

The attack, which took place overnight, was part of a broader assault by Russian forces using a combination of cruise missiles and attack drones, Caliber.Az reports via Russian independent media. 

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Kh-101 missiles were used in the deadlly attack on Novemebr 19, which targeted high-rise residential buildings on Stusa Street and 15 Kvitka Street. The missile strikes caused significant damage, with parts of a multi-story building collapsing. Rescue operations, which continued for three days, have been hampered by the scale of the destruction.

Local authorities report extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, and the attack is now considered one of the deadliest since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response to the tragedy, Ternopil has declared November 19–21 as days of mourning to honour the victims.

The strike was reportedly carried out using X-101 cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS and Tu-160MS strategic bombers. In total, Russian forces launched 48 missiles and 476 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting energy facilities and other critical infrastructure across multiple regions of Ukraine that night.

By Sabina Mammadli