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Ternopil Tragedy: 12-Year-Old Dies Nine Days After Apartment Strike That Killed 35

Adriana, a 12-year-old from Ternopil, died nine days after a Russian strike destroyed her family’s apartment; her mother was killed and her sister remains hospitalized. The attack on two apartment blocks killed 35 people, including seven children, and injured many more. Officials say the assault involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, and a recent UN report warns Russia has increased use of long-range weapons in 2025, driving up civilian casualties.

01:47 AM, 11/28/2025Conflict
Ternopil Tragedy: 12-Year-Old Dies Nine Days After Apartment Strike That Killed 35

Tributes poured in after Adriana, a 12-year-old girl from Ternopil, died nine days following a Russian strike on her family’s apartment block in western Ukraine. Her mother was killed in the attack and her sister remains hospitalized.

"Her mother was killed, and her sister is still in the hospital. Now Adriana is in a place where there is no fear or explosions — next to her mother, in a quiet and bright place, beyond the reach of war," Serhii Nadal, mayor of Ternopil, wrote on Telegram.

Adriana’s school remembered her as a "bright, kind" child with "cheerful eyes," saying she was loved and appreciated by classmates and teachers. The school added that, despite doctors' efforts and the hopes of many, her heart could not withstand the trauma.

Last week’s strikes hit two apartment blocks in Ternopil, killing 35 people, including seven children, and wounding many others. Ukrainian officials said the large-scale assault involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles.

Other victims and reaction

Among the other victims was seven-year-old Amelia Hrzesko, who died alongside her mother, Oksana. Amelia’s school said the pair were embracing when they were killed and described Amelia as a "bright girl" whose loss has left the entire school family mourning.

Siblings Kamila, five, and Nazar, one, were also killed along with their mother, Maria, local outlet Ternopil 1 reported. Their father, Kamal, who survived the strike, was shown in video shared by Ukraine’s foreign ministry carrying a small coffin at the funeral. The foreign ministry said Kamal "is the only survivor of a Russian missile strike on his apartment" and called attention to the "unbearable human cost" of the attacks.

Wider context

Western Ukraine has largely been spared the worst of Russia's aerial campaign since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, but the Ternopil strikes marked one of the deadliest attacks on the region since then. A recent United Nations report found that Russia significantly increased its use of long-range weapons in 2025, contributing to a spike in civilian casualties in Ukrainian cities.

Local and national leaders have called for continued support for victims' families and for accountability for attacks that strike residential areas. Investigations and humanitarian responses are ongoing as communities mourn the losses and tend to the injured.

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