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Early on Sunday, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, typically considered as among the most secure urban centers in the country, experienced one of its most serious strikes since the outset of Russia's comprehensive invasion.

For five hours, Russian Shahed drones and missiles hit the city, situated around 70km from the border with Poland. Significant explosions were audible from the city center, a designated UNESCO heritage location.

Casualties and Destruction Across Ukraine

Nationwide, no fewer than five people lost their lives – four individuals in the Lviv region and one in the Zaporizhzhia city. Additionally, 14 people were injured. Included among the casualties was a 15-year-old girl, who perished along with three other family members when their residence was struck.

Sections of Lviv was left without electricity, according to the city leader. Significant blazes erupted in multiple areas, such as a industrial zone in the south of the urban center.

As the acrid odor of burning and fumes permeated the area, the regional governor urged residents to close their windows and avoid going outside or to use gas masks or breathing apparatus.

Regional Responses and Security Actions

Polish military aviation stated it scrambled jets and took preventive action to protect its territorial skies following a recent incursion by Russian decoy drones. There were also numerous drone sightings in recent days in EU countries such as Germany and Denmark.

• More than fifty rockets and approximately five hundred unmanned assault vehicles were involved in the assault.
• Armaments comprised cruise missiles, Iranian-designed Shaheds and Kinzhal ballistic missiles.
• Multiple areas were impacted, including Ivano-Frankivsk region, Zaporizhzhia, Odessa, Kherson, Sumy region, Kharkiv and Chernihiv territory.

Appeal for International Assistance

Ukrainian leadership called on international partners to help boost air defense systems and to impose a restricted airspace – a measure that has so far been met with reluctance.

"An independent cessation of hostilities in the skies is attainable – and it is exactly this which could pave the path to genuine negotiations. America and Europe must take action to compel Russian leadership stop," the message emphasized.

In recent days, Russian forces has targeted the nation's power facilities, leading to electricity outages in several regions, a strategy repeated in the lead-up to colder months for the past three years. Meanwhile, Ukraine has been target oil production facilities within Russia with its domestically developed extended-range unmanned aircraft.

Community Consequences

Lviv was underway of the annual Lviv BookForum, with authors and audiences gathered in the city for a major literary events in the region.

In addition to local authors, including literary figures Julia Musakovska and Artur Dron, there were international speakers including UK-based Forward prizewinning poet Fiona Benson, and, participating by video link, the Booker prize-winner Bernardine Evaristo, and the Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk.

By Sunday morning, ash was continuing to descend on the roads of the city, as fatigued locals emerged and attended church services. The damaged wreckage of a unmanned aircraft lay on a pavement outside a block of flats, cordoned off with red tape.