A devastating Russian military assault has claimed ten lives and left dozens injured across Ukraine, according to official statements released on Wednesday. The attack occurred as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Turkey for diplomatic discussions aimed at finding a settlement to end Russia's invasion of his country.
Apartment Blocks Targeted in Western Ukraine
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the nighttime attack struck two nine-story apartment buildings in Ternopil, a city situated in western Ukraine approximately 200 kilometres from the Polish border. Emergency crews worked throughout daylight hours, carefully sifting through rubble in desperate search of survivors.
The assault left at least 37 people wounded, including twelve children, adding to the growing civilian casualty toll from the conflict. Ternopil has become a relative sanctuary for many Ukrainians who fled dangerous frontline areas in the east and south, making this attack particularly devastating for displaced families.
Massive Scale of Russian Barrage Revealed
Ukraine's air force provided staggering figures about the overnight assault, reporting that Russia launched 476 strike and decoy drones alongside 48 missiles of various types at targets across the country. The coordinated attack represents one of the larger aerial assaults in recent months.
President Zelenskyy responded to the brutality on Telegram, writing: "Every brazen attack against ordinary life indicates that the pressure on Russia to stop the war is insufficient." His comments came as he prepared for critical discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Diplomatic Efforts Intensify Amid Violence
Zelenskyy emphasised that his meeting with Erdogan would focus on "maximum capabilities to ensure that Ukraine achieves a just peace", noting the two leaders maintain "good relations." The Ukrainian president also referenced upcoming American sanctions against Russia's oil industry, scheduled to take effect on Friday, describing them as designed to "push Putin to the negotiating table."
In a development that highlighted the regional implications of the conflict, Romania's Ministry of National Defence reported scrambling two Eurofighter Typhoon jets and two F-16s when a drone entered NATO airspace during the Russian attacks. Meanwhile, Polish authorities temporarily closed Rzeszów and Lublin airports to prioritise military aviation as a precautionary measure.
The northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest urban centre, suffered significant damage with 46 people injured by Russian drones. Regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov reported that strikes hit multiple city districts, damaging at least 16 residential buildings, an ambulance station, a school, and other civilian infrastructure.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed on Wednesday that Ukraine had fired four American-supplied ATACMS missiles at the Russian city of Voronezh the previous day. While asserting all four were intercepted, the ministry acknowledged that falling debris damaged an orphanage and gerontology centre, though no casualties were reported.
