Ask Onix
Deadly Russian strikes hit western Ukraine, killing at least 10 in Ternopil
A Russian missile and drone barrage struck multiple Ukrainian cities on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens-including 12 children-in the western city of Ternopil, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. The assault marks one of the deadliest attacks on western Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia launched over 470 drones and 47 missiles, causing "significant destruction" across the country. In Ternopil, footage shared by Zelensky showed a residential block collapsed between the third and ninth floors, with smoke billowing from windows and debris scattered across the street. Emergency crews warned that survivors could still be trapped under rubble.
Attacks spread across western and northern regions
Beyond Ternopil, strikes targeted the western regions of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, while a drone assault wounded more than 30 people in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Online images depicted burning buildings and vehicles, with plumes of black smoke rising over urban areas. Sirens blared in Ternopil as a massive smoke cloud loomed behind the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Critical infrastructure bore the brunt of the attacks. In Ivano-Frankivsk, two of three reported injuries were children, and an energy facility was struck. Lviv's regional governor confirmed damage to another energy site, while Ukraine's energy ministry warned of power cuts affecting multiple regions.
Escalation follows Ukraine's first admitted Atacms strike on Russian soil
The barrage came a day after Ukraine's military confirmed it had used US-supplied long-range Atacms missiles to hit military targets inside Russia-marking the first acknowledged strike of its kind. Russia's defense ministry claimed Ukraine fired four Atacms at the southern city of Voronezh but said all were intercepted by air defenses.
Meanwhile, Romania's defense ministry reported a Russian drone violated its airspace early Wednesday, traveling 8 km (5 miles) before crossing into Ukraine and Moldova, then re-entering Romania. The drone's final location remains unclear. Romanian and German fighter jets were scrambled in response, while Poland temporarily closed two southeastern airports and deployed aircraft amid the regional tensions.
Diplomatic maneuvers as war's fourth anniversary nears
Against the backdrop of escalating violence, Zelensky traveled to Ankara for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aiming to revive stalled US-led peace efforts. The Kremlin dismissed reports of secret US-Russia negotiations, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters, "There is nothing new that we can inform you about."
Zelensky is also set to meet two top US military officials-Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff General Randy George-in Kyiv on Thursday, the highest-level US military visit since Donald Trump took office. The meetings coincide with reports that Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been coordinating with Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev on a potential peace framework.
Stalemate persists as February anniversary looms
With the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaching in February, Moscow and Kyiv remain at an impasse. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated this month that the Kremlin's conditions for a settlement-first outlined by President Vladimir Putin in 2024-have not changed.
