Children among 25 killed in one of Russia’s deadliest strikes on western Ukraine

One of the deadliest Russian attacks on western Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion has devastated the city of Ternopil. Ukrainian authorities report at least 25 people killed, including three children, after Russian missiles and drones slammed into two residential buildings early Wednesday morning. Another 73 people were injured, 15 of them children.

Residential buildings struck directly

Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed that Russian X-101 cruise missiles hit the apartment blocks. A video released by President Volodymyr Zelensky shows a building whose third to ninth floors collapsed entirely, leaving rescuers searching through massive piles of debris.

Thick smoke rose from shattered windows, flames burned near the rubble, and civilians could be heard crying out for missing family members.

Multiple regions targeted simultaneously

The strike on Ternopil was part of a broader Russian attack across Ukraine:

• Lviv region struck,

• Ivano-Frankivsk hit,

• Kharkiv bombarded by drones, injuring over 30.

Footage online showed burning cars and devastated streets.

Ukraine intercepts most missiles — but not all

According to Ukrainian officials, their air defence systems shot down:

• 442 of 476 drones,

• 41 of 48 missiles, including 10 intercepted by recently supplied F-16 and Mirage 2000 jets.

However, the Air Force warned that its systems are overstretched and issued a clear plea:
“Ukraine needs uninterrupted and timely supplies of Western air-launched weapons.”

Why Ternopil was vulnerable

Located closer to Poland than Kyiv, Ternopil has rarely been targeted, in part due to its distance from active front lines. But with Ukraine forced to defend an enormous territory each night, air defence coverage is uneven.

“As long as Russia fires dozens of missiles simultaneously, some will inevitably break through,” said Ukrainian officials. “In Ternopil, those breakthroughs became tragedy.”

Growing concerns in Europe and NATO

The attack struck alarm bells in European capitals — Ternopil lies only a few hours from NATO territory. Western leaders condemned the strike and reiterated calls for increased air defence support for Kyiv.

The tragedy underscores a grim reality:
western Ukraine, once considered safe, is now firmly within Russia’s target zone.