A devastating Russian aerial attack on western Ukraine has killed at least 25 people and wounded over 100, prompting the UN refugee agency to warn that no part of the country should be considered safe from the conflict.
The strike on Ternopil is reported to be among the deadliest attacks on western Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. The cities of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk were also hit in the coordinated assault, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Emergency services continued responding to the attacks, which damaged energy facilities, transportation networks and civilian infrastructure. The death toll may rise as rescue operations continue.
Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR’s Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Ukraine Situation and Regional Director for Europe, said the attacks demonstrate clearly that no part of Ukraine should be considered safe.
The statement comes as some countries have rejected asylum claims from Ukrainian refugees, arguing that certain parts of Ukraine are safe or that individuals could relocate to safer areas within the country. UNHCR urged all states hosting Ukrainian refugees to continue providing protection and assistance.
The attacks are part of an intensified Russian campaign this year that has particularly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainians are facing their fourth consecutive winter of insecurity and exhaustion from living in a war zone, with continuous attacks on energy infrastructure limiting access to essential heat and power.
UNHCR and partner organisations inside Ukraine are providing winter assistance, including cash for firewood and warm clothing, home repairs and insulation, and generators for the most affected communities.
