19 killed in Russian attack on Western Ukrainian City

Nineteen people were killed and at least 66 others wounded after a heavy overnight Russian missile and drone barrage struck residential and infrastructure targets across Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday. One of the deadliest strikes occurred in the western city of Ternopil, where an apartment building was hit, leaving homes destroyed and families trapped under debris.

The widespread strikes forced authorities to impose rolling blackouts in several regions to protect the stability of the national grid. Ukraine’s energy operator warned that repairs could take days due to the severity of the destruction. Temperatures in parts of the country have dropped close to freezing, intensifying concerns for vulnerable residents left without heating or electricity.

Ukrainian emergency services said that the attack was part of a broader Russian campaign targeting civilian infrastructure, a pattern repeated throughout the conflict. They added that hospitals in affected areas were treating dozens of injured, including children and the elderly.

Officials condemned the strikes as another escalation in Russia’s ongoing offensive, stressing that western Ukraine, far from the front lines, has increasingly come under attack in recent months. Rescue efforts in Ternopil are ongoing, with authorities warning that the death toll may rise.

International reactions have begun pouring in, with calls for stronger support to help Ukraine protect its cities from aerial attacks and repair critical infrastructure as winter approaches.