At least 25 people were killed as Russia launched massive overnight attack across Ukraine, authorities reported on Wednesday. All killed civilians were in Ukraine’s western city of Ternopol where a residential tower block was destroyed.
The strike involved 476 drones and 48 missiles, most of which were downed by the Ukrainian Air Forces. Ten of the missiles were shot down by F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets provided by Western allies. Around 100 civilians were injured, of whome fifteen were children. Three more civilians were injured in Western Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Air raids were activated across Ukraine on Wednesday morning, with the authorities issuing warnings to residents. Ukraine’s energy ministry said Russian attacks had resulted in emergency power outages in a number of region.
Wednesday’s air raid was one of the deadliest attacks on Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion around four years ago. Moreover, it was the first large-scale attack on Ternopol city that is close to Polish border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the assault as a “brazen” attack against civilians and called for more international pressure on the Kremlin.
“Every brazen attack against ordinary life shows that the pressure on Russia is insufficient. Effective sanctions and assistance to Ukraine can change this,” Zelenskiy wrote in a social media post. He called for air defence missile aid from allies.
The deadly attack on Wednesday came as Zelenskiy was due to visit Turkiye where he will hold talks for ending the war.
