Decisive attacks on November 19, 2025, rocked western Ukraine, including the largely untouched city of Ternopil, killing at least 25 people and injuring dozens more, according to Ukrainian emergency services, marking a significant escalation of strikes far from the frontline targeting residential areas and critical energy systems.
The coordinated assault involved a combination of Russian missiles and drones striking multiple regions, most notably in the west, a part of the country previously spared the intense bombardment seen elsewhere. Officials confirmed that in Ternopil, two residential buildings were hit, resulting in the deaths of 25 individuals, including three children, and wounding 73 others, 15 of whom were minors.
The extensive damage in Ternopil, a city geographically closer to the Polish border than the capital, Kyiv, highlights Moscow’s widening target scope. Social media footage and reports indicated significant structural collapse in one apartment block, where President Volodymyr Zelensky noted numerous victims were trapped under the debris. Rescue teams struggled for hours to sift through the wreckage as thick smoke obscured the skyline near local landmarks.
Infrastructure Targeted Across Western Regions
Beyond Ternopil, the strikes seriously impacted other western areas, including Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, along with drone attacks targeting three districts in Kharkiv. The focus appeared heavily tilted toward damaging essential civilian services.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, energy infrastructure was severely compromised, leading to injuries, including two children. The regional head of Lviv also reported a crucial energy facility strike. These attacks come as Russia reportedly intensifies its campaign against Ukraine’s power grid ahead of what would be the conflict’s fourth winter. Following the barrage, Ukraine’s energy ministry announced immediate, nationwide power rationing measures.
The scale of the aerial assault was substantial. Ukraine’s Air Force reported success in intercepting a large portion of the incoming ordnance, claiming to have shot down 442 out of 476 drones and 41 out of 48 missiles. However, officials acknowledged their defenses remain severely strained across the country’s vast territory.
Diplomatic and Military Context
Moscow’s Ministry of Defence confirmed conducting a “massive strike” using long-range precision weapons, asserting the targets were Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and energy infrastructure. They framed the action as retaliation for alleged Ukrainian attacks on civilian sites.
This new wave of attacks follows a significant development on the ground: Ukraine’s military confirmed, for the first time, using U.S.-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles against military objectives located within Russian territory. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue, with President Zelensky traveling to Ankara to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss reviving peace initiatives.
Broadening Regional Tensions
The military activity also extended beyond Ukraine’s borders, increasing regional tensions. Romania’s defence ministry reported that a Russian drone briefly violated their airspace, prompting the scrambling of Romanian and German fighter jets. Similarly, Poland launched its own jets and temporarily closed two airports in its southeast as a precautionary measure immediately following the attacks in western Ukraine, underscoring the severe instability created by the ongoing conflict.
The high casualty count and the destruction of residential areas underscore the conflict’s continuing impact on Ukrainian civilians and suggest a significant shift in Russian targeting strategy toward locations traditionally considered safer. The sustained pressure on energy systems signals that infrastructure resilience will be a primary challenge for Ukraine in the coming months.