UKRAINE: At least 25 people, including three children, were killed and 73 others injured when a Russian strike hit residential buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil on Wednesday, authorities said, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent months.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service stated that more than 160 rescuers were working at the scene, utilizing around 45 units of equipment, including robotic systems. Sappers were also deployed to survey the surrounding area for unexploded ordnance, reports Anadolu news agency.
Rescuers said 45 people had been pulled from the rubble as fires broke out across several locations, damaging high-rise apartment blocks as well as nearby industrial and warehouse facilities.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack, saying it revealed the reality behind Russia’s “peace plans.”
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 48 missiles and 476 drones from multiple directions, targeting the Lviv, Ternopil and Kharkiv regions. According to the statement, Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 483 out of 524 detected attack assets, including 442 drones, 34 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and seven Kalibr missiles.
Air Force officials said the assault began on Tuesday evening and involved Shahed-type drones, Gerbera-type UAVs and cruise missiles launched from Russian territory and occupied Crimea. Seven missiles and 34 drones struck 14 locations, while debris from intercepted weapons was recorded in six areas.
Russia said its forces carried out a “massive strike with long-range precision weapons” on military-industrial and energy facilities in western Ukraine. The Defense Ministry said the attack, which also used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and attack UAVs, was conducted in response to what it called Ukrainian strikes on civilian sites in Russia.
Moscow claimed all designated targets were hit, though the assertion could not be independently verified.
