🔗 Share this article Russian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Rockets Strike Western Ukrainian City of Lviv in Prolonged Attack In the early hours of Sunday, the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, typically seen as one of the safest urban centers in the nation, endured among its most serious attacks since the beginning of Russia's comprehensive military campaign. Over a five-hour period, Moscow's Shahed drones and rockets hit the urban area, located about 70km from the Polish border. Large explosions were audible from the downtown area, a Unesco world heritage site. Casualties and Damage Across Ukraine Nationwide, at least five people lost their lives – four in the Lviv region and another in the Zaporizhzhia city. In addition, 14 individuals were injured. Among the casualties was a 15-year-old girl, who died along with three other relatives when their residence was impacted. Sections of Lviv was left without electricity, according to the mayor. Large blazes broke out in multiple areas, including a civilian industrial park in the southern part of the city. As the pungent odor of burning and fumes engulfed the area, the regional governor advised inhabitants to close their windows and refrain from venturing outdoors or to use protective masks or breathing apparatus. International Responses and Defense Measures Poland's air force reported it scrambled jets and took preventive action to protect its airspace following a previous incursion by Russian decoy drones. Additionally, there were multiple drone sightings in recent days in European Union nations such as Denmark and Germany. Over fifty rockets and approximately 500 attack drones were involved in the attack. Weaponry included long-range guided missiles, Iranian-designed Shaheds and Kinzhal ballistic missiles. Multiple areas were affected, among them Ivano-Frankivsk region, Zaporizhzhia oblast, Odessa, Kherson, Sumy, Kharkiv oblast and Chernihiv territory. Appeal for International Assistance The nation's leader called on allies to strengthen air defences and to establish a restricted airspace – a measure that has so far been approached cautiously. "A unilateral ceasefire in the air is possible – and it is exactly this which could open the way to real diplomacy. The United States and European nations must act to compel Putin cease," the statement emphasized. Over the past few days, Russian forces has focused on the nation's power facilities, leading to electricity outages in multiple areas, a tactic employed in the lead-up to colder months for the previous three winters. At the same time, Ukraine has been target fuel infrastructure within Russia with its own extended-range unmanned aircraft. Community Consequences Lviv was underway of the annual Lviv literary festival, with authors and audiences gathered in the urban center for a major literary events in eastern Europe. In addition to Ukrainian writers, such as poets Artur Dron and Julia Musakovska, there were global participants including British Forward prizewinning author Fiona Benson, and, joining by video link, the Booker Award recipient Bernardine Evaristo, and the Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk. On Sunday morning, ash was continuing to descend on the streets of Lviv, as fatigued locals ventured out and attended church services. The twisted metal remains of a Russian drone rested on a pavement outside a block of flats, cordoned off with red tape.