War against Ukraine: Injured after rocket attack on Lviv

Lviv in western Ukraine has again been attacked by Russian rockets. The authorities report five injured. The aim of the attack was important infrastructure – which is located in the middle of residential areas.

By Bernd Musch-Borowska, NDR, z. Zt. Lviv

The air alert, late yesterday afternoon, abruptly ended an outdoor concert in front of the Lviv Opera House. Loudspeaker announcements to go to the basement and bomb shelter dispersed the crowd on the central street of freedom, Prospect Swoboda.

Shortly thereafter, there were rocket hits in the vicinity and thick clouds of black smoke hung over the old town of Lviv. According to the authorities, no houses were hit. The aim of the rocket attack is said to have been a fuel depot. Military governor Maxym Koszyzky wrote on his Telegram channel that five people were injured.

The fire brigade and other rescue vehicles were on duty for hours. On the streets, people watch in disbelief how close the war has come to their city. In the affected part of the city, people could see the horror. Ina Kapitula, a local resident, tells us: “We were just inside the mall when the sirens wailed. Everyone rushed out and as we sat in the car, we heard the first loud bang as the rocket hit. Then, about 30 seconds later like, the second rocket came and then everyone ran into the air raid shelters.”

Targets in residential areas

Both targets of the airstrike were in residential areas, Governor Kozytsky said at a press conference late in the evening: “There were two airstrikes against infrastructure facilities, an oil depot in the city area and a military facility, both in residential areas. Five injured people had to be treated and died nobody.”

So far, Lviv has been largely spared from attacks. Once there was an explosion at the city’s airport, well outside of the historic city center, all of which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Mayor calls for air defense

But all cities in Ukraine are in danger, according to Lviv Mayor Andryi Sadovyi. No one can say what the next target will be: “We don’t know where the next rocket will go. Both of them were launched today from Sevastopol in Crimea. Lviv was hit today, but other cities were hit too. We’re all in the same place Situation. The faster we get weapons and air defense systems, the safer our citizens will be.”

The city of Lviv lies on an important route for refugees from the embattled areas in eastern Ukraine. Of the two million Ukrainians who fled to Poland, a large proportion passed through the city. Around 200,000 internally displaced persons are said to have found accommodation in Lviv and the surrounding area itself.

UNHCR concerned about attacks on civilians

The situation is particularly worrying for children, complained James Elder, spokesman for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNHCR) in Lviv: “Hospitals and schools are being attacked, families are being shot at in residential areas, women are giving birth to children in air raid shelters. That’s all very very worrying.”

Further fighting was also reported from eastern Ukraine. The northern Ukrainian city of Slavutych is said to have been occupied by Russian forces. This is where the staff who oversee the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant live. According to Ukrainian media reports, the city’s residents demonstrated against the Russian occupiers and unfurled a huge Ukrainian flag.

Situation in Mariupol still dramatic

The situation remains particularly bad in the port city of Mariupol in the south of the country, which is surrounded by Russian troops. Apparently 100,000 people are still trapped there. According to eyewitness reports, the city is completely destroyed, there is no water and no food.