Potential Missile Launch from Russia Reported Near Saratov
On August 19, 2025, reports indicated a probable launch of X-101 cruise missiles from the Saratov region of Russia, conducted by Tu-95MS strategic bombers. Ukrainian Air Forces and several monitoring resources confirmed the possibility of an attack, noting that two missile-carrying aircraft were in the air at the time, reports 24brussels.
Monitoring groups indicated that concrete information regarding whether real launches occurred from both aircraft or if it involved simulated launches would be clarified between 3:30 and 3:50 AM, during which time enemy missiles could enter Ukrainian airspace.
Update: Initial launch attempts were not confirmed; however, new pre-launch maneuvers have been reported in the Volgograd region. Should the launches be genuine, the missiles could reach Ukraine by around 5:00 AM.
The Tu-95MS, a strategic bomber that has been in service since the Soviet era, forms the backbone of Russia’s long-range aviation. The current version of the aircraft can carry up to six cruise missiles of the types X-55 or X-555, with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers.
It is important to recall that a prior strike by Russian ballistic missiles on Zaporizhzhia resulted in at least 30 people injured.
