A 7‑year‑old Polish girl and her mother were killed when Russian missiles and drones struck a residential block in Tarnopol, Ukraine, on 18‑19 November.
Russian missile and drone assault
On the night of 18–19 November, Russian forces launched a large‑scale missile‑and‑drone strike on Ukraine. The attack targeted civilian objects, including two multi‑storey residential blocks in Tarnopol, western Ukraine. According to Ukrainian and Polish authorities, more than 470 drones and nearly 50 missiles were used across the country, causing widespread destruction of infrastructure and housing.
Damage and casualties
The missiles hit two residential blocks in Tarnopol, igniting intense fires that engulfed the upper floors. Rescue teams combed through rubble for days, removing collapsed structures and searching for missing persons. Ukrainian Interior Ministry figures, cited by Polish media, reported 31 fatalities, 94 injuries, and several missing individuals—among them children—after the attack. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deaths of a 7‑year‑old girl and her mother in the incident.
Amelia and her mother
Amelia, a 7‑year‑old citizen of Poland living in Tarnopol, was a student in the second class of the W. Hurniak General‑Education School. The school announced that Amelia and her mother died when a missile strike caused a fire in a residential block. The school described Amelia as a bright student and “little angel,” lamenting that she will never return to class or sit at her desk again. The victim’s mother’s personal details were not released publicly.
School response and mourning
The school organized a memorial mass for Amelia and her mother, inviting students, teachers, and parents to attend in solidarity with the family. School officials emphasized that Amelia’s death was an irreversible loss for the entire school community.
Official reactions
Polish Foreign Minister spokesperson Maciej Wewiór confirmed the deaths, noting that the attack “killed a 7‑year‑old Polish citizen.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Kazimierz Nawrocki both issued condolence statements, condemning the raid and calling for the war to end. Polish Government spokesperson Adam Szlapka condemned the attack as a clear sign of the enemy’s presence at the Kremlin.
