The night descended on Ternopil with a terrifying roar. A massive wave of Russian drones and missiles slammed into the western Ukrainian city, shattering the quiet and claiming the lives of more than two dozen people, including innocent children.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed a grim tally: at least 25 dead and 73 injured. Two nine-story residential buildings bore the brunt of the attack, collapsing under the relentless assault and trapping residents within their shattered homes.
President Zelenskyy revealed the sheer scale of the overnight offensive – over 470 drones and 48 missiles unleashed across Ukraine. Emergency services immediately launched a desperate race against time, battling fires and painstakingly searching for survivors buried beneath the rubble.
Images from Ternopil painted a harrowing picture of devastation. Blown-out windows gaped like empty eyes, the exterior of a residential building was scorched and blackened, and thick plumes of smoke choked the air as rescue crews worked tirelessly.
The attack wasn’t isolated to Ternopil. Zelenskyy reported strikes across nine other regions, deliberately targeting critical infrastructure and energy facilities in Lviv, and inflicting damage on civilian areas in Kharkiv. The breadth of the assault underscored a brutal escalation.
Zelenskyy issued a stark plea, arguing that the continued attacks demonstrated a critical need for increased international pressure on Russia. He emphasized the urgent requirement for robust sanctions, substantial aid to Ukraine, and, crucially, enhanced air defense capabilities.
He specifically called for more air defense missiles, advanced systems, expanded combat aviation, and a bolstered domestic drone production capacity – all vital to shielding Ukrainian lives from future attacks. The message was clear: survival depended on strengthening Ukraine’s defenses.
The threat extended beyond Ukraine’s borders. Poland’s Operational Command responded to the attacks by scrambling fighter jets and activating its air defense systems. These preventative measures were designed to safeguard Polish airspace near the Ukrainian border, highlighting the regional implications of the conflict.
Zelenskyy concluded with a resolute demand for accountability, insisting that Russia must answer for its actions. He stressed the importance of unwavering focus on bolstering Ukraine’s ability to intercept missiles, neutralize drones, and ultimately halt the relentless assaults.
