Moscow (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Russia reports Ukraine launched U.S.-supplied ATACMS at Voronezh; all intercepted by air defenses, causing only minor property damage and no casualties.
As reported by Reuters, Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that Ukraine launched four U.S.-made ATACMS missiles at Voronezh, targeting civilian areas.
What did Russia say about Ukraine’s ATACMS missile attack?
Russia’s defence ministry confirmed on Telegram,
“Russian S-400 air defence crews and Pantsir missile and gun systems shot down all ATACMS missiles.”
The ministry released images of missile fragments and said air reconnaissance traced the launch to Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.
In response, Russia said it fired Iskander-M missiles to strike and destroy two Ukrainian multiple rocket launchers.
According to the ministry, falling missile debris damaged roofs in Voronezh, hitting a retirement home, an orphanage, and one house, with no civilian injuries reported.
Ukrainian military confirmed on Tuesday, 18 November, that it struck Russian military positions with US supplied ATACMS missiles, calling it a “significant development.”
What did Volodymyr Zelensky say about Russia’s massive overnight attacks?
A series of explosions was heard in Lviv and Ternopil, after Ukraine’s military warned of a high threat from Russian missiles and drones.
The military said,
“Russian S-400 air defence crews and Pantsir missile and gun systems shot down all ATACMS missiles.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Russian forces launched more than 470 drones along with 48 ballistic and cruise missiles in a massive overnight attack.
He confirmed that at least nine people have been killed, with dozens more injured.
Mr Zelensky said in Ternopil, western Ukraine, that all nine deaths occurred after nine-story apartment buildings were hit, causing significant destruction.
The Ukrainian president added that a “massive” strike hit Kharkiv in the northeast, injuring dozens, including children. Attacks also occurred across Donetsk, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and other regions.
He added,
“Each brazen attack against ordinary life shows that the pressure on Russia is insufficient. Effective sanctions and assistance to Ukraine can change this. The primary need is air defense missiles, additional systems, increasing the capabilities of our combat aviation, and the production of drones to protect life.”
How does Russia plan to defend against Ukrainian drone strikes and sabotage operations?
The Kremlin has passed new laws to protect Russia from Ukrainian attacks, signaling the aim of a prolonged conflict with Ukraine.
To strengthen the security of essential facilities, the Russian president has ordered the deployment of reservists to protect sites, including refineries hit by drones, amid rising fuel prices.
The new measure allows Moscow to mobilize around 2 million reservists to guard energy facilities without declaring a new draft. These reservists undergo annual training and receive a small monthly allowance, but are deployed to fight in Ukraine only if they volunteer.
Russian authorities also deployed dense air defences around President Vladimir Putin’s Valdai residence and the elite Rublyovka district.
When did the Russia-Ukraine war start, and how many have died in Ukraine?
The Russo-Ukrainian War began in late February 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and escalated into a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged 43,000 deaths among soldiers and officers as of December 2024. In the earlier phase of the conflict (2014-2022), over 4,400 Ukrainian military personnel were killed.