At least two people were killed and more than 20 injured following an airstrike on the western city of Lviv, according to the regional governor Maksym Kozystskyi.
The attack, which took place early Wednesday, caused fires in several residential buildings, prompting authorities to close two schools for the day.
Lviv’s mayor, Andryi Sadovy, confirmed that emergency services were on the scene, working to extinguish the blazes and search for additional victims.
“The damage to the city is extensive,” said Sadovy, noting the destructive impact on the community.
Simultaneously, explosions were reported in the capital city, Kyiv, as air defenses attempted to intercept Russian missiles.
The Ukrainian military announced that the entire country had been placed under an air alert, signaling the severity of the ongoing conflict.
The latest wave of attacks comes just a day after a devastating airstrike in the city of Poltava, where 51 people were killed. Rescue workers continue to search through the rubble of a military institute in Poltava for survivors, with the death toll expected to rise.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence stated that many victims did not have enough time to reach bomb shelters after the air raid alarms sounded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, calling the perpetrators “Russian scum” and vowed that they would be held accountable.
He reiterated his plea for more air defense systems, emphasising the need for Ukraine to protect itself by carrying out long-range missile strikes in retaliation.
Moscow has yet to comment on the recent strikes, while the international community watches closely as the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate.
The tragic loss of life and the widespread destruction underscore the brutal reality of the ongoing war, leaving cities like Lviv and Poltava to pick up the pieces in the aftermath.
