Russian Cruise Missile Attack Kills Six Civilians in Western Ukrainian City of Lviv

Russian Cruise Missiles Kill Civilians in Western Ukrainian City of Lviv

In a devastating attack on Thursday, a barrage of Russian cruise missiles killed at least six civilians and injured dozens in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. This attack, described by local authorities as the worst in Lviv since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, highlights the ongoing danger faced by civilians in Ukraine, despite the Kremlin’s repeated denials of targeting nonmilitary sites.

Last week, another missile strike in the eastern Donetsk region claimed the lives of 13 people, including an acclaimed writer, when a popular restaurant in Kramatorsk was hit.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had successfully shot down seven out of ten Kaliber cruise missiles fired from the Black Sea early on Thursday morning. However, several missiles still managed to hit a residential area in Lviv, causing significant damage to around 30 houses and 50 cars. At least 40 people were wounded in the attack.

Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of Lviv’s regional administration, confirmed the deaths of a 32-year-old woman named Anastasia and her 60-year-old mother, Myroslava. Anastasia, identified as Anastasia Seniv, worked for Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s postal service, and was soon to be married.

Expressing his condolences, Kozytskyi wrote in a statement posted on Telegram, “Eternal memory to those we lost. Let’s take revenge!”

The Ukrainian defense ministry labeled the overnight attack as the most devastating one on the city since the beginning of the full-scale war. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi echoed this sentiment in a video posted on Twitter.

Lviv, located near the border with Poland, is often considered a cosmopolitan safe haven. However, the region has repeatedly come under fire, particularly in attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian academic Sasha Dovzhyk, who was present during the attack, took to Twitter to express his shock, stating that Russia had hit “one of the safest places in Ukraine.” He described how he was only 2 km away from the site, and the explosion shook the walls of the bathroom where he was hiding.

Rescue efforts lasted for more than 17 hours, with emergency services and Lviv’s mayor working tirelessly to clear debris and search for survivors. Drone footage from the scene showed workers combing through the shattered apartment block, amidst the wreckage of concrete and broken glass.

The emergency services released a statement mentioning the presence of psychologists on-site and the deployment of mobile police stations to provide assistance to victims. The rescue teams worked without rest to aid those affected by the attack.

By 6 p.m. on Thursday, local media reported that 43 percent of the rubble had been cleared. However, a spokesperson for the local emergency services warned that there could still be victims trapped in the debris.

The attack on Lviv serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

How has the attack in Lviv escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and how are both sides responding to the situation?

Slava, in the strike. He also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and pledged to provide support and assistance to those affected by the attack.

The attack in Lviv has further escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denouncing it as a “war crime” and calling for international condemnation of Russia’s actions. Zelensky also urged the international community to take immediate steps to stop Russian aggression and protect civilians in Ukraine.

The Russian government, however, has denied any involvement in the attack and instead blamed Ukrainian forces for targeting their own civilians in a bid to gain international sympathy. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of using “provocations” to draw attention away from their own military actions.

The use of cruise missiles in civilian areas is a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on nonmilitary targets and the indiscriminate targeting of civilians. The targeting of civilian areas not only causes immense suffering and loss of life but also violates the principles of proportionality and distinction.

The attack in Lviv serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the devastating impact it has on civilians. With no end in sight to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it is imperative for the international community to take immediate action to protect civilians and hold those responsible for war crimes accountable.