Russian Drone and Missile Strike in Ternopil Kills at Least 25

TERNOPIL, Ukraine — November 19, 2025: At least 25 people were killed in a devastating overnight Russian drone and missile attack that struck apartment buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday. More than 80 others were injured as Russia launched a massive assault involving 476 drones and 48 missiles across Ukraine.

The attacks targeted residential areas, energy infrastructure, and transport systems, forcing emergency power cuts across several regions as temperatures plunged.

Destruction in Ternopil

The upper floors of a residential building in Ternopil were ripped apart. Thick smoke rose into the cold night sky as firefighters battled flames and desperate residents waited outside for news of missing loved ones.

“Fiery Lava”

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described the overwhelming destruction:

“From the ninth to the first floor, this fiery lava engulfed our people. They had no time to escape because everything was already on fire.”

Officials reported that three children were among the dead. With around 25 people still missing, the death toll is expected to rise.

Among those searching for relatives was Oksana Kobel, whose son was inside a ninth-floor apartment at the time of the strike.

“I went to work and heard the explosions. I called him and said, ‘Bohdan, go to the shelter, get dressed.’ He said, ‘Mom, I’m already awake. Everything will be fine.’”

Poland Scrambles Air Defenses

The attack prompted immediate defensive measures in neighboring Poland, a NATO member. Airports in Rzeszow and Lublin were temporarily closed, and Polish and allied aircraft were scrambled to protect national airspace.

Zelenskiy Calls for More Pressure on Russia

The assault coincided with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s trip to Turkey for talks aimed at reviving stalled peace negotiations. Zelenskiy urged Ukraine’s allies to increase military support and tighten sanctions against Moscow.

“Every brazen attack against ordinary life shows that the pressure on Russia is insufficient. Effective sanctions and assistance to Ukraine can change this,” he wrote on X.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine would highlight Russia’s “horrific murder” at the upcoming UN Security Council meeting.

Wider Strikes Across Ukraine

Energy facilities were hit in seven regions, resulting in restrictions on electricity use nationwide. Explosions were heard in the western city of Lviv, while Kharkiv also came under fire. In Kyiv, residents took shelter in metro stations.

Russia, which denies targeting civilians, claimed the airstrikes were retaliation for “terrorist attacks” on its territories, including the firing of four U.S.-made ATACMS missiles at the Russian city of Voronezh.

Ukraine’s military confirmed earlier attacks on military targets in Russia.

Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Anastasiia Malenko and Yuliia Dysa in Kyiv; Editing by Timothy Heritage