Deadly Russian Strikes Hit Western Ukraine, 20 Killed in Ternopil

Published: 19 November 2025 Wednesday . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A devastating Russian drone and missile strike has hit the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, killing at least 20 people, including two children, and injuring dozens more. Ukrainian officials described the attack as one of the deadliest strikes on western Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022, highlighting the ongoing peril facing civilians far from the frontline regions.

Police reported that another 66 people were wounded, including 16 children. The assault targeted two blocks of flats in Ternopil, leaving significant destruction and trapping residents under the rubble, according to Ukrainian authorities. Videos shared by President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that one of the apartment buildings had collapsed from the third to the ninth floor, with smoke pouring from windows and fires burning outside.

“This attack is a blatant assault on civilians,” said Ukraine’s interior minister Ihor Klymenko. Emergency teams were rushed to the site to search for survivors amid fears that more people may still be trapped beneath the wreckage. A thick plume of smoke rose over the city, with sirens blaring across Ternopil, as rescue operations continued into the night.

The Russian offensive was not limited to Ternopil. Nearby western regions, including Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, also sustained attacks, with infrastructure, energy facilities, and transport networks suffering damage. In Ivano-Frankivsk, two of the three reported injured were children, while in Lviv, an energy facility was struck, further disrupting the already fragile power grid. Ukrainian authorities said that power cuts were affecting several regions, compounding the humanitarian impact.

President Zelensky said that Russia had launched more than 470 drones and 47 missiles, causing “significant destruction” across multiple regions. He warned that emergency responders were still searching for people buried under the rubble in Ternopil, emphasizing the scale and severity of the attack. “These strikes target civilian infrastructure and endanger innocent lives,” Zelensky said in a televised address.

The strikes came shortly after Ukraine confirmed that it had fired US-supplied long-range Atacms missiles at military targets inside Russia, marking the first public acknowledgment of such operations on Russian soil. Moscow claimed that four of the missiles targeted the southern city of Voronezh, but that all had been intercepted by air defenses. The timing of the Russian strikes suggests a potential retaliatory motive, though the attacks continued to impact civilians rather than military sites.

In addition to the human toll, the strikes caused extensive material damage. Buildings and cars were set ablaze, and key urban infrastructure was disrupted, with emergency services struggling to respond amid the ongoing assault. Images and videos circulating online showed the scale of devastation, with entire apartment blocks reduced to rubble and thick smoke dominating the skyline of Ternopil.

The attacks have also reverberated internationally. Romania reported that a Russian drone flew approximately eight kilometres into its airspace before entering Ukraine and Moldova, and then returned to Romania. Romanian and German air forces scrambled jets in response, though the drone’s exact landing point remained unclear. Poland also deployed jets and temporarily closed two airports in its southeast region as precautionary measures. These incidents underscore the regional ramifications of Russia’s aggressive actions, which extend beyond Ukraine’s borders.

President Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Ankara, Turkey, to engage in talks aimed at reviving a US-led effort to negotiate an end to the war. He is set to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amid reports of ongoing discussions between US and Russian officials, including a potential peace initiative involving US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev. However, the Kremlin has indicated that no Russian representatives will attend the Ankara talks, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declining to comment on reports of secret negotiations.

Meanwhile, senior US military officials, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, are scheduled to visit Kyiv, marking the highest-level US military presence in Ukraine since President Donald Trump took office. Analysts suggest that the visit underscores continued US support for Ukraine while signaling ongoing military coordination amid escalating Russian attacks.

The strike on Ternopil comes as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches next February. Despite numerous diplomatic efforts, Moscow and Kyiv remain sharply divided over the terms and conditions for peace. Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that Moscow’s stance on peace negotiations has not changed since President Vladimir Putin outlined conditions in 2024, indicating that a resolution to the conflict remains distant.

The human impact of the latest strikes is profound. In Ternopil, families have been torn apart, with children among the casualties and survivors left traumatized by the destruction of their homes. Rescue workers continue to comb through debris, facing hazardous conditions as fires smoulder and structural instability threatens further collapse. International humanitarian agencies have expressed concern about the scale of civilian casualties and the long-term psychological and social impact on affected communities.

Analysts highlight that the targeting of civilian areas in western Ukraine represents a shift in Russia’s strategy, previously concentrated on eastern and southern frontlines. Attacks on energy facilities, residential blocks, and transport infrastructure suggest an effort to strain Ukraine’s civilian resilience and undermine confidence in government protection. Experts warn that these strikes could have cascading effects on the country’s economy, public morale, and regional stability.

In addition to the immediate humanitarian crisis, the strikes have underscored the vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy sector. Power cuts and damage to critical infrastructure threaten heating, communications, and essential services, particularly as winter approaches. The attacks also highlight the challenges faced by Ukrainian authorities in defending cities far from the frontline, emphasizing the growing need for advanced air defense systems and international support.

The ongoing conflict continues to draw global attention, with leaders worldwide closely monitoring developments and providing humanitarian and military assistance. The escalation in western Ukraine, combined with cross-border drone incursions into neighboring countries, reinforces the international dimension of the war and the potential risks of broader regional escalation.

As Ukrainian emergency responders continue rescue and recovery operations in Ternopil and other affected regions, the focus remains on saving lives, restoring essential services, and addressing the immediate needs of civilians. International calls for restraint, accountability, and adherence to humanitarian law have intensified, reflecting widespread concern over the human cost of the conflict.

This latest attack highlights the ongoing vulnerability of civilians and the persistent challenges Ukraine faces in defending its territory. With military, diplomatic, and humanitarian pressures converging, the coming weeks will be critical in determining the trajectory of the war, the resilience of affected communities, and the international response to Russia’s continued aggression.