ISTANBUL

At least 25 people, including three children, were killed and 73 others injured after a Russian strike hit residential buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil on Wednesday morning, authorities said, marking one of the deadliest attacks in recent months.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine said more than 160 rescuers are working at the scene with about 45 units of equipment, including robotic systems. Sappers have also surveyed the surrounding area.

The agency earlier reported that rescue workers had saved 45 people from the rubble and that fires broke out in the aftermath of the strike, damaging high-rise residential buildings as well as industrial and warehouse facilities.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack, saying Russia's actions showed how its "‘peace plans’ look in reality."

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement that Russia launched 48 missiles and 476 drones from several directions, with the main targets being the Lviv, Ternopil and Kharkiv regions.

It said air defense forces shot down or suppressed 483 of the 524 detected air attack assets, including 442 drones, 34 Kh-101 cruise missiles and seven Kalibrs.

Air Force officials said the attack began on Tuesday evening and involved Shahed-type drones, Gerbera-type UAVs and cruise missiles launched from Russian regions and from occupied Crimea.

Seven missiles and 34 strike drones hit 14 locations, while falling fragments were recorded in six areas.

Russia claimed its forces carried out a “massive strike with long-range precision weapons” on Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities in western regions.

The Defense Ministry said the attack, which included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and attack UAVs, was conducted “in response” to what it called Ukrainian strikes on civilian sites in Russia.

It said “all designated targets were hit,” a claim that could not be independently verified.