Explosions in Ternopil as Russian Drone Swarm Reaches Western Ukraine

Russian drones struck Ternopil in a daytime attack, triggering explosions, smoke, and power outages as Moscow expands its air campaign into western Ukraine. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A photograph taken on December 27, 2025 shows an Iranian-designed Shahed 136, (Geranium-2) drone used by Russian Army flying over Kyiv during a Russian drones and missiles attack, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.(Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The western Ukrainian city of Ternopil came under a Russian drone attack on Friday afternoon, May 1, with a series of explosions reported across the city. According to Ukrainian media, the first blasts were heard at around 1:10 p.m. amid a broader nationwide assault involving Shahed-type drones. Monitoring channels reported that dozens of drones entered the area. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “Urgently take cover! Do not use transport,” Mayor Serhiy Nadal warned residents. Taras Pastukh, head of the regional military administration (OVA), said both the city and the wider region were in a zone of increased danger. Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media appears to show a church service in Ternopil taking place during a massive attack, with explosions heard in the background. Kyiv Post has not been able to independently verify the time or location of the footage. RBC-Ukraine outlet reported that thick smoke spread across parts of the city following the explosions. Later, Nadal said power outages affected several districts. Since the morning, Russia has launched a large-scale drone attack across Ukraine, with drones detected in most regions. By midday, the strikes had reached western parts of the country. Moscow launched a record number of long-range attack drones at Ukraine in April, according to an AFP analysis of data released by Kyiv’s air force. Other Topics of Interest Bloomberg: Ukrainian Drone Strikes Push Russian Oil Processing to Lowest Level Since 2009 Bloomberg confirmed Ukrainian robot aircraft are systematically demolishing Russian energy infrastructure one day after Trump – confusing Ukraine with Iran – declared Ukraine “militarily defeated.” The surge in attacks came as US-mediated peace talks stalled, with Moscow also increasingly deploying drones during daytime hours — a shift Kyiv says is aimed at maximizing civilian harm. In total, Russia fired 6,583 long-range drones over the month, based on daily Ukrainian Air Force reports. This marked a 2% increase compared to March, which had previously set the record. Despite the scale of the attacks, Ukraine reported intercepting around 88% of incoming drones and missiles, highlighting the effectiveness of its air defense systems. Kyiv has repeatedly said its counter-drone capabilities – developed over years of near-daily strikes – are among the most advanced globally. Ukrainian interceptor drones have even been deployed abroad, including in the Middle East, where they were used to counter Iranian drone attacks. Until recently, Russia primarily carried out drone strikes at night. However, analysts say a growing number of daytime attacks reflects a deliberate tactical shift. The Institute for the Study of War warned in April that combining large-scale nighttime and daytime strikes is likely to increase civilian casualties. “Russia’s new tactic of coupling a large nighttime strike with an equally large daytime strike will likely cause increased civilian harm,” the think tank said. It added that daytime strikes may be intended to target civilians more directly, especially as warmer weather brings more people outdoors. Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of the office of Volodymyr Zelensky, described the shift as a new effort to “terrorise civilians” after the winter campaign. “There is also an economic component,” Palisa said in early April. “Massive attacks in the middle of the working day significantly paralyse business.” During the colder months, Russia focused heavily on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions without heating and hot water in freezing temperatures. Russian forces launched a large-scale drone attack on multiple Ukrainian cities early on May 1, striking residential areas and infrastructure. In Odesa, drones hit high-rise buildings in the Khadzhibeyskyi district, sparking fires and injuring several people, according to local officials. Damage to port infrastructure was also reported. Additional strikes targeted Izmail district port facilities, where fires were quickly contained. In Kharkiv, drones hit five districts, including gas stations and urban infrastructure. Several civilians were injured, one with shrapnel wounds and another suffering acute stress. Prosecutors said up to four gas stations were struck and suggested Russia may have used drones equipped with AI systems. Across the country, Russia launched 210 drones overnight, including around 140 Shahed-type UAVs, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting or suppressing 190. Responding to the attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was deliberately targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, including energy and rail systems. He reported injuries in Odesa and Kryvyi Rih and warned that such daily strikes underscore the need for increased international pressure and stronger sanctions to force Moscow toward diplomacy. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. 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