Ukrainian officials say a devastating overnight attack by Russia has left 10 people dead in the western city of Ternopil. The strikes, which happened late Tuesday, tore through a residential high-rise, ripping off its top floors and leaving the building burning as thick black smoke filled the sky.
About 40 people across the country were injured in the wave of missile and drone strikes, which also hit energy facilities and transportation sites during freezing weather. In Ternopil alone, 37 people were hurt including 12 children as rescue workers searched through the debris, worried that more people could still be trapped.
The attack was massive. Ukrainian officials said Russia fired over 470 drones and 48 missiles in one night. The situation was serious enough that neighboring Poland, a NATO country, briefly shut down two airports and sent up military aircraft to protect its airspace.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that tall residential buildings were hit in Ternopil and again urged Ukraine’s allies to tighten sanctions on Russia and strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. He said each new strike shows that international pressure on Moscow still isn’t enough.
Energy crews reported damage in at least seven regions, and parts of the country were told to cut electricity use because of emergency shortages. In Lviv, residents heard several explosions as the attacks unfolded. For now, officials are still assessing the full extent of the damage as Ukraine braces for another day of recovery.
