Death Toll from Russian Strike on Ternopil Climbs to 19, Ukraine Reports

At least 19 people were killed and 66 others injured after a Russian strike hit residential buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil early Wednesday, authorities said, updating the toll from one of the largest combined drone-missile attacks in recent months.

The State Emergency Service reported that rescue workers had saved 45 people from the rubble and continued operations as large fires broke out following the strikes. Damage was reported to residential high-rise buildings, industrial sites, and warehouses, with more than 190 emergency personnel and 38 units of equipment deployed to the area.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack, stating that Moscow’s actions revealed “how Russia’s ‘peace plans’ look in reality.” According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 48 missiles and 476 drones from multiple directions, targeting Lviv, Ternopil, and Kharkiv regions. Air defenses reportedly shot down or suppressed 483 of the 524 detected attack assets, including 442 drones, 34 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and seven Kalibr missiles.

Officials said the assault began Tuesday evening, employing Shahed-type and Gerbera-type drones, as well as cruise missiles launched from Russian territory and Crimea. Seven missiles and 34 strike drones hit 14 locations, with debris from falling fragments recorded in six areas.

Moscow, meanwhile, claimed its forces carried out a “massive strike with long-range precision weapons” against Ukrainian military-industrial and energy targets in the western regions. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the attack, which included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and attack UAVs, was conducted “in response” to alleged Ukrainian strikes on civilian sites in Russia and asserted that “all designated targets were hit.”