A wave of Russian attacks has struck Ukraine, claiming the lives of a mother and her three daughters among seven others.
The attack occurred in the western city of Lviv, at around 5:40 am, with witnesses describing the scene as “apocalyptic.”
Lviv Mayor, Andriy Sadovy revealed that Russia had unleashed a barrage of drones and hypersonic missiles on the city, causing widespread damage to over 50 buildings, including homes, schools, and clinics.
The victims included Yevgenia and her three daughters, Darina, Emilia, and Yaryna, who perished in their own homes. The only survivor was the father, who was left to mourn the loss of his entire family.
The attack on Lviv has left the city in shock, with many residents struggling to come to terms with the scale of the destruction.
“The sound of explosions waked me up,” said one resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “I saw people running and screaming, and I knew something was wrong.”
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia had fired 13 missiles and 29 attack drones, with seven cruise missiles and 22 drones shot down by Ukrainian defenses.
The attack on Lviv came as the city was under air raid alert, with explosions also heard in the capital Kyiv as air defenses targeted Russian missiles.
The onslaught continues a pattern of escalating violence, with Russia’s deadliest single bombardment this year occurring just days earlier in the central city of Poltava where a strike on a military institute left 53 people dead and 271 wounded, with rescue workers still searching for survivors in the rubble.
Following the incident, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his calls for Western allies to provide long-range weapons to help Ukraine defend itself against the relentless Russian aggression.
The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of committing war crimes, and Zelensky has vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
Meanwhile, the city’s mayor, Andriy Sadovy, has praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people, saying, “We will rebuild and recover, but we need the world’s help to stop this senseless violence.”
As the conflict rages on, there are fears that the situation could escalate further. The Ukrainian military has reported that Russian forces are massing on the border, and there are concerns that a full-scale invasion could be imminent.
The international community is urging calm and restraint, and diplomats are working behind the scenes to broker a peaceful resolution.
