Key facts
- Russian forces attacked the Main Directorate of the National Police in Zhytomyr Oblast with Banderol drones on August 19, 2026.
- Two police officers were killed and at least 20 people were injured in the strike.
- The attack caused a fire on the roof and fourth floor of the police headquarters.
- Governor Vitalii Bunechko confirmed a hit on the regional police headquarters.
- This incident is part of a broader pattern of Russian drone attacks across Ukraine.
Russian forces launched a targeted strike using Banderol drones on the regional headquarters of Ukraine's National Police in Zhytomyr on August 19, 2026. The attack resulted in the deaths of two police officers and injured at least 20 others. According to First Deputy Head of the National Police Maksym Tsutskiridze, the strike was "cynical" and hit the building of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Zhytomyr Oblast, causing a fire on the roof and fourth floor.
Emergency services were on the scene to provide aid and document the aftermath. Governor Vitalii Bunechko had previously confirmed a hit on the regional police headquarters, noting the use of jet-powered drones. This incident follows a similar Russian drone attack on Zhytomyr on August 9, which injured three people and damaged civilian infrastructure. Over the past day, Russian attacks across Ukraine have killed at least 17 people and injured 54, with Ukraine's Air Force reporting the launch of two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 65 drones on August 19. Russia has increasingly employed faster, jet-powered weapons like the Banderol loitering munition alongside conventional drones, posing a greater challenge to Ukrainian air defenses.