At least 25 people, including three children, were killed and nearly 100 others were wounded after a large-scale Russian drone and missile barrage struck multiple regions of Ukraine on Wednesday. The assault triggered nationwide air raid warnings and caused widespread destruction in western cities far from the front line, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks.

The city of Ternopil suffered the worst damage, with Ukrainian authorities confirming extensive casualties and destruction of residential buildings. The attack also coincided with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s arrival in Turkiye for diplomatic talks aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Zelenskyy calls for stronger air defence support

President Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, describing them as yet another sign that international pressure on Moscow remains inadequate. In a social media post, he urged Ukraine’s allies to accelerate the supply of air defence systems and tougher sanctions.

“Every brazen attack against ordinary life shows that the pressure on Russia is insufficient,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Russia launched more than 470 drones and 48 missiles during the latest assault.

The entire country remained under air raid alerts for hours, with explosions reported across the western regions of Lviv and Ternopil. Authorities issued urgent warnings advising residents to seek shelter as the missile waves approached.

Ternopil suffers heavy casualties and destruction

The Ukrainian interior ministry confirmed that at least 25 people had died, including three children, and 73 others were injured in Ternopil alone. State media reported that a multistorey residential building was directly hit, leaving its upper floors destroyed and large columns of smoke visible across the city.

Images circulated on Telegram channels showed widespread devastation, with a towering plume of black smoke rising above damaged buildings and fires still burning through debris.

Ukraine’s energy ministry also stated that the strikes caused emergency power outages across several regions, although the full extent of the damage remains under assessment.

Lviv region hit but reports no casualties

Lviv Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed that an energy facility and an industrial site were hit during the attack. While significant damage was reported, he said no casualties had occurred in the region. Power disruptions were noted in several districts, according to residents and local media.

Kharkiv sees further damage in overnight attack

In the northeastern region of Kharkiv, police reported that an overnight attack injured at least 36 people. The barrage damaged more than ten apartment buildings, a school, a supermarket and an ambulance substation, placing additional pressure on emergency services already stretched by recurring assaults.

Ukraine intensifies push for modern air defences

The attacks come as Ukraine continues its diplomatic efforts to secure more advanced air defence systems from its Western partners. During his recent visits to key European allies, including Turkiye and France, Zelenskyy repeatedly emphasised the need for stronger defences.

On Monday, Zelenskyy joined French President Emmanuel Macron in signing an accord enabling Ukraine to acquire up to 100 fighter jets along with drones and other military hardware. The agreement is part of Kyiv’s broader strategy to counter Russia’s increased aerial bombardments.

Poland responds with temporary airport closures

Following the latest wave of strikes, neighbouring Poland temporarily closed its Rzeszow and Lublin airports in the southeast, citing potential risks. Military officials said Polish and allied aircraft were scrambled as a precaution due to Russian activity near the border.

Poland and other NATO nations have been reinforcing their air defence networks, deploying additional systems along the 530km border shared with Ukraine.

Moscow reports interception of Ukrainian missiles

Russia’s defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces fired four US-made ATACMS missiles at the southern city of Voronezh on Wednesday. According to Moscow, all incoming missiles were intercepted by its S-400 and Pantsir air defence systems.

Debris from the intercepted missiles reportedly damaged the roofs of a retirement home, an orphanage and a residential house. Russian officials said there were no casualties and released images allegedly showing the missile remnants.

Ukraine’s military, however, said it had targeted military sites within Russia, calling the operation an “important development”. Kyiv received ATACMS in 2023 but was initially barred from using them on Russian territory. It has since used the missiles on multiple occasions, including an attack on the Belgorod region earlier this year.

Conclusion

With both sides escalating aerial operations, Ukraine continues to press its allies for expanded military aid, especially air defence systems. As the conflict enters another winter, officials warn that further strikes on energy infrastructure may lead to prolonged outages, adding to the humanitarian strain on civilians across the country.