Russia's Air Strike Targeting Ternopil (November 2025)

19 November 2025, the Russian Federation launched a missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack on the city of Ternopil in western Ukraine. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 people including three children and left approximately 100 people injured.

Russian air strike on Ternopil 19 November 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)

Course of the Attack

During the Russian attack on Ternopil on 19 November 2025, Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Kliemenko, reported that two apartment buildings had suffered severe damage. He stated, “In the building where both entrances were completely engulfed by fire, not a single apartment remained intact.” During the assault, the upper floors of the buildings collapsed entirely and fire rapidly spread to engulf the entire structures.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) teams conducted search and rescue operations throughout the night to reach people trapped under the rubble. On Telegram, Kliemenko said, “We have a great deal of work ahead. The most important thing remains finding those who may still be under the debris.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a social media post, stated that the attack had caused “significant destruction” and that many people remained trapped under the rubble. The video he shared showed one of the targeted apartment buildings completely collapsed with thick smoke rising from its windows.

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missiles were used in the attack. According to their statement, Russia simultaneously launched 48 missiles and 476 unmanned aerial vehicles. Ukrainian forces intercepted 41 missiles and 442 drones.

Three children were killed during the attack and approximately 100 people were injured. It was reported that 18 of the injured were children. In the initial hours, 20 dead and 66 injured were reported, but Zelensky later updated the figures, stating that the death toll had risen to 26 and that 22 people had still not been reached.

The Ternopil Regional Military Administration declared 19–21 November as days of mourning. The statement read, “All entertainment activities in Ternopil have been canceled due to the tragedy, and flags on public buildings have been lowered to half-mast.”

Russian air strike on Ternopil 19 November 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)

Impact Across Ukraine

The Russian attack on Ternopil caused power outages, infrastructure damage and casualties in many regions of western and northeastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy announced that “emergency power cuts” had been implemented in multiple areas.

The attack targeted energy infrastructure in seven regions of the country. According to Kiev Independent, a thermal power plant owned by the private energy company DTEK was damaged. The company stated this was the fifth time it had been targeted since October. Vitaliy Zaychenko, head of Ukrenergo, described Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure as “waves of strikes beginning in the east, moving toward the center and then extending to western Ukraine.”

In Kharkiv region, drone attacks carried out the same night injured at least 46 people, including two girls aged nine and thirteen. Governor Oleh Sinehubov stated, “Russian drones struck the city of Kharkiv, injuring at least 46 people including two girls aged nine and thirteen.” In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, three people were injured, two of them children.

A major fire broke out in the city of Lviv. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported that a tire storage facility had been hit but no casualties or injuries were reported. It was also reported that a newly opened office of Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s state postal service, had been destroyed and approximately 900 packages had been lost.

The Ternopil Military Administration reported that after the attack, the level of harmful substances in the city’s air rose to six times the normal level. Authorities warned residents to keep their windows closed.

Russian air strike on Ternopil 19 November 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)

Official Statements and Reactions

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a social media statement following the attack, reported that Russia had used 48 missiles and more than 470 unmanned aerial vehicles across various regions of Ukraine. He added, “Every brazen attack on ordinary life demonstrates the inadequacy of pressure on Russia. Effective sanctions and support for Ukraine can change this situation.”

Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Kliemenko, in a Telegram post, reiterated, “We have a great deal of work ahead. The most important thing remains finding those who may still be under the debris.” The State Emergency Service (DSNS) confirmed that numerous people had been rescued from the rubble and that operations continued throughout the night.

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the attack was carried out with Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missiles and stated, “Russian-made X-101 cruise missiles struck residential buildings.” The Air Force also reported that “442 of the 476 drones and 41 of the 48 missiles launched by Russia were shot down.”

Russian Federation

The Russian Ministry of Defense, in a statement on 19 November 2025, claimed the strikes targeted Ukraine’s “military-industrial complex and energy sector.” On the same day, the Ministry announced that Ukraine had attempted to attack the Russian city of Voronezh using U.S.-made ATACMS missiles. The Ministry stated, “Russian S-400 air defense units and Pantsir missile and gun systems intercepted all ATACMS missiles.” It added that debris from the downed missiles had damaged “the roof of a nursing home, an orphanage and a house” in Voronezh, but no casualties were reported.

Russian air strike on Ternopil 19 November 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)

International Reactions

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attacks on various regions of Ukraine including Ternopil on 19 November 2025, noting that at least 25 people including children had been killed. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking in New York, said, “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the Russian missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks on multiple regions of Ukraine at midnight that have resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people including children.”

Dujarric further emphasized that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute violations of international humanitarian law, stating, “These are unacceptable and must end immediately wherever they occur.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed horror at the civilian losses in Ternopil. In a written statement, he said, “The horror of attacks increasingly employing large numbers of drones and powerful long-range missiles has once again painfully laid bare the suffering in Ukraine.”

Türk, noting that civilians and civilian infrastructure are clearly protected under the laws of war, added, “Repeated violations of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law—distinction, proportionality and precaution—raise serious concerns. Such violations must be investigated promptly, comprehensively and independently. Russia must immediately halt its armed attack on Ukraine and withdraw all its military forces from Ukrainian territory.”

Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha, in a statement the day after the attack, announced that the incident would be brought before the United Nations Security Council. Sybiha said, “Ukraine will place Russia’s horrific attack on the agenda of tomorrow’s UN Security Council meeting.”

Poland temporarily closed the airports in Rzeszów and Lublin to protect its airspace during the attacks and scrambled fighter jets. The Romanian Ministry of Defense reported that the same night a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace for approximately 8 kilometers. The statement added, “In response to this violation, Romanian and German fighter jets were scrambled.”