At least 26 individuals lost their lives, with many others reported missing, following a Russian drone and missile assault on residential buildings in Ternopil, Ukraine. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko disclosed that 26 people were still unaccounted for after the strikes, which included three children among the casualties. The attacks, involving 476 drones and 48 missiles, targeted energy and transport infrastructure, resulting in widespread power outages in various regions amidst freezing temperatures.
The upper levels of a residential structure in Ternopil were severely damaged in the attack, with billowing black smoke and an ominous orange glow from fires within the tower block. Klymenko, via Telegram, informed that rescue teams worked tirelessly throughout the night, sifting through the debris of the demolished apartment building. He emphasized the urgent need to locate any potential survivors trapped under the rubble.
In a heart-wrenching account, Oksana Kobel expressed hope for her son’s safety, who was inside a ninth-floor apartment during the assault. The devastation left not a single dwelling untouched in the building with two entirely burned entrances, as flames rapidly engulfed the structure, prompting residents to attempt desperate escapes.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed reports of strikes on multi-storey residential buildings in Ternopil, raising concerns about potential individuals trapped beneath the debris. Zelenskyy urged international allies to intensify pressure on Russia to halt the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stressing the need for increased air defense missile support for Kyiv.
Energy infrastructure in seven Ukrainian regions was reportedly targeted, leading to power consumption restrictions nationwide. Witnesses in Lviv reported hearing explosions, while residents in Kyiv sought shelter in metro stations as a safety precaution. Russia, denying deliberate targeting of civilians, claimed to have retaliated against alleged “terrorist attacks” on its territories by Ukrainian forces.
Zelenskyy engaged in diplomatic discussions in Turkey and planned to meet with U.S. military officials in Kyiv to bolster peace negotiations with Russia. Despite previous rounds of talks facilitated by Turkey, direct dialogues between Kyiv and Moscow have been sparse, with Russian military operations persisting since the invasion commenced in February 2022.
Efforts to reach a ceasefire and support war-ravaged Ukraine have occupied the agendas of European allies. However, uncertainties loom over financial assistance for Ukraine’s reconstruction, postwar security guarantees, and potential future security commitments by the United States, which has ruled out deploying ground troops in Ukraine.
