A significant Russian drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Ternopil has resulted in the deaths of at least 25 individuals, including three children. This incident occurred on the night of March 15, 2024, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aimed at garnering diplomatic support against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The assault targeted two nine-story apartment buildings in Ternopil, which is located approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the Polish border. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that emergency teams are currently searching through the debris for any potential survivors. In addition to the fatalities, at least 73 people have sustained injuries, including 15 children, according to reports from emergency services.
The attack involved a large-scale launch of 476 strike and decoy drones, alongside 48 missiles of various types, as detailed by Ukraine’s air force. Among these were 47 cruise missiles, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting all but six. Western-supplied F-16 and Mirage-2000 jets successfully intercepted at least ten of the cruise missiles during the barrage.
In response to the attacks, President Zelenskyy expressed on the messaging platform Telegram, “Every brazen attack against ordinary life indicates that the pressure on Russia to stop the war is insufficient.” He is set to discuss strategies for achieving a just peace during his meeting with Erdogan, emphasizing the importance of international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy hinted at potential developments regarding U.S. sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, which are expected to take effect on March 17, 2024. These sanctions are designed to encourage Putin to engage in negotiations. While there were initial plans for U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to join Zelenskyy in Turkey, this was later retracted.
Ternopil, located in a relatively peaceful western part of Ukraine, has become a refuge for many displaced individuals fleeing conflict from the eastern and southern regions. The violence has also impacted other areas, with reports of injuries from Russian strikes in three additional Ukrainian regions.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the strikes were a retaliatory measure against Ukrainian operations targeting Russian energy facilities and military-industrial sites. Meanwhile, tensions in NATO member states have escalated, with Romanian officials stating that two Eurofighter Typhoon jets and two F-16s were scrambled when a drone entered their airspace during the Russian attacks. The Polish military also engaged, temporarily closing Rzeszów and Lublin airports to prioritize military aviation.
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, drone strikes injured 46 people, including two young girls, as multiple districts were hit, damaging residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. In a separate incident, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that four American-supplied ATACMS missiles fired by Ukraine at the Russian city of Voronezh were intercepted, although debris from the missiles caused damage to several buildings, including an orphanage.
This latest escalation underscores the ongoing volatility and human cost of the conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of military actions. As diplomatic efforts continue, the international community watches closely for developments that may impact the course of the war in Ukraine.
