- By Jaroslav Lukiv & Thomas McIntosh
- BBC News
WATCH: Lviv apartments destroyed by rocket fire
At least four people, including two women aged 21 and 95, were killed when a Russian rocket hit an apartment building in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.
Another 34 people were injured in what Lviv’s mayor described as “one of the biggest attacks” on the city’s civilian infrastructure.
Lviv regional head Maksym Kozytskyi said more than 30 houses were destroyed.
The Russian military has not commented on the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky promised a “firm” response to the overnight attack by “Russian terrorists”.
Writing in Telegram, Mr Kositsky said: The youngest woman killed by a rocket in her apartment in Lviv tonight is 21. Russia is killing our youth. Our future.
“The old man who died was 95. The woman survived World War II, but unfortunately, she did not survive racism.”
Mr Kositsky said emergency services were continuing to work to clear the debris and rescue people feared trapped in the rubble.
“There is a shelter next to the house that was hit by the missile,” he added.
“It is in good condition and was open at the time of the alarm. However, only five people from the entire building were in the shelter. Very disappointing.”
Dr. Sasha Dovzyk, who works for a Ukrainian firm in London and is currently in LV, described being hidden in his bathroom when he heard the air raid sirens.
“This is what we have to do,” he told the BBC. “It’s a Ukrainian custom.
“You have to put up two walls, preferably no windows, no glass, between you and the street, outside.
“When the rocket, the missile we now know, a Caliber missile, hit a residential building 2 km away, the walls of the bathroom I was hiding in shook, so the impact was so strong.”
Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko said it was feared that people could be trapped in the rubble
Ukraine’s air force accused Russia of launching missiles from the Black Sea.
Posting on Telegram, Ukraine’s armed forces said “seven out of 10 caliber cruise missiles” were shot down, but one rocket “changed course” to the west and hit Lviv.
The BBC was unable to verify these claims.
For months, Russia has carried out deadly missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, often hitting civilian targets and causing widespread blackouts.
Last week, an attack on a restaurant and shopping center in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, near Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, killed 13 people, including children.
Although Lviv is in western Ukraine, it is relatively far from the front lines in southern and eastern Ukraine, which has seen Russian attacks in the past.
If you are in the area or affected by what happened, you can get in touch by email [email protected].
If you would like to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact number. You can also contact us through the following ways:
If you can’t read this page and see the form, you should visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or email us at [email protected]. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
