Kyiv [Ukraine], November 19 (ANI): At least 25 people, including three children, were killed and 73 others injured after Russian forces launched heavy strikes on the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Wednesday. The ministry noted that at least 45 units of equipment, including robotic systems, were deployed to clear rubble and search for survivors.
In a post on X, the ministry confirmed the scale of the devastation, stating that emergency response teams from the State Emergency Service and the National Police were working at the site. The shelling occurred overnight and hit residential areas, igniting fires in several nine-storey apartment buildings and causing widespread destruction.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 470 attack drones and 48 missiles of various types—one ballistic and the rest cruise missiles—during a wave of overnight strikes across multiple regions. He said Ternopil was among the worst hit, with “significant destruction” and ongoing search-and-rescue operations.
“Across many of our regions, work is underway to address the aftermath of Russia’s attack,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on X. “In Ternopil, residential nine-story buildings were hit, causing fires. Unfortunately, there is significant destruction, and there may be people trapped under the rubble. All necessary emergency services are on the ground, trying to save every life.”
The Ukrainian President also detailed extensive attacks in Kharkiv, where dozens were injured, including children, and where energy, transport and civilian infrastructure suffered severe damage.
Additional strikes were reported in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, where three people, including two children, were injured. Critical infrastructure was also targeted in Lviv, while attacks were recorded in the Donetsk, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Dnipro regions.
Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s urgent need for air-defence missiles, additional air-defence systems, combat aviation, and increased drone production. He stressed that Russia must be held accountable for continuing the conflict, now in its fourth year.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials highlighted major gains from President Zelenskyy’s recent visits to Greece, France and Spain, securing new defence commitments, energy guarantees and financial assistance totalling more than EUR 515 million.
Greece agreed to provide guaranteed gas supplies for the winter and expand its role as a regional energy hub. France committed to bolstering Ukraine’s defence capabilities, including a strategic agreement for 100 Rafale F4 aircraft by 2035, SAMP/T air-defence systems, advanced radars and new military assistance this year.
Spain pledged substantial air-defence and energy support, including EUR 100 million for air-defence missiles, EUR 215 million for the SAFE instrument, EUR 200 million for Ukraine’s energy sector, and a new package featuring IRIS-T missiles. (ANI)
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