Russian Drone Strikes Kill 20 in Ternopil, Western Ukraine in Crisis

Ternopil, Ukraine — November 19, 2025: Russian missile and drone attacks on western Ukraine have killed at least 20 people, including two children, and wounded 66 others, marking one of the deadliest assaults on the region since the full-scale war began in February 2022. Ukrainian officials report that the strikes targeted two residential blocks in Ternopil, causing significant destruction and leaving people trapped under the rubble.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia launched over 470 drones and 47 missiles across multiple western regions, leaving “significant destruction” in their wake. Other areas affected included Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, while a drone strike targeted three districts of the northern city of Kharkiv, wounding more than 30 people.

The devastation in Ternopil was particularly severe. Videos released by Zelensky showed that one of the two blocks of flats had completely collapsed between the third and ninth floors. Smoke poured from windows, and small fires continued to burn outside the damaged building as rescue workers scoured the wreckage for survivors. Sirens wailed across the city, signaling the scale of the emergency.

Energy facilities, transport networks, and civil infrastructure were also damaged in the western regions, with power cuts reported in several cities. In Ivano-Frankivsk, two of the three injured were children, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attacks. Lviv’s regional head confirmed that a local energy facility had been struck, affecting power supply across the area.

The strikes come a day after Ukraine reported firing US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles at targets inside Russia, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. Russia claimed that four of the missiles were aimed at Voronezh but said they were intercepted by air defenses.

The attacks coincide with President Zelensky’s visit to Ankara, Turkey, where he aims to revive US-led peace efforts and hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Reports indicate that US special envoy Steve Witkoff has been working with Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev on a potential peace plan, though the Kremlin has denied sending representatives to the Ankara talks.

Further tension in the region was reported as a Russian drone violated Romanian airspace, crossing into Ukraine and Moldova before returning to Romania. The Romanian and German air forces scrambled jets in response, while Poland temporarily closed two airports in the southeast following the western Ukraine strikes.

As Ukraine approaches the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2026, both nations remain at an impasse over peace negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated earlier this month that Moscow’s conditions for a peace deal remain unchanged from the 2024 framework outlined by President Vladimir Putin.

Analysts warn that the deadly strikes and ongoing drone incursions underline the escalating threat to civilians and infrastructure in western Ukraine. The international community continues to call for restraint and accelerated diplomatic efforts to prevent further humanitarian crises.

With thousands of residents in Ternopil and other western cities facing the aftermath of airstrikes, the human cost of the war continues to mount, emphasizing the urgent need for conflict resolution and protection of civilians in the war-torn regions of Ukraine.