KYIV: In a tragic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russian air strikes have left a trail of destruction and loss of life in western Ukraine. The city of Lutsk was struck by a barrage of nearly three dozen missiles early Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. The assault also reached Lviv, the largest city in the region, where a playground was decimated, a residential building charred, and widespread damage inflicted on dozens of structures.
The attacks coincide with recent comments by Russia’s defense minister, who asserted at a Moscow military expo that Ukraine’s military resources were dwindling, and Kyiv’s battlefield progress was sluggish. Lutsk Mayor Igor Polishchuk confirmed the casualties on social media, expressing that emergency services were working diligently to locate survivors. Remarkably, one victim was miraculously rescued from the debris alive.
While air defense forces managed to repel some of the overnight air attacks, one missile struck an industrial facility in Lutsk, causing further damage. This city, with a pre-war population of over 200,000, lies less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Ukraine’s border with Poland.
The devastating strikes prompted condemnation from Ukrainian officials, with senior presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak describing the attacks as “deliberate large-scale attacks on civilians. Solely for the sake of killing and psychological pressure.”
Devastation in Western Ukraine
Tragedies of this magnitude have been sporadic in western Ukraine. In the past, the region has experienced fatal strikes, such as the March incident that claimed the lives of four Ukrainian soldiers at the Lutsk military airport. However, the frequency of such attacks has risen in recent weeks, leading to a growing sense of vulnerability among civilians.
In Lviv, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi revealed that several missiles had been intercepted, but the damage was still extensive. More than 100 apartments were affected, and a kindergarten was destroyed after a missile landed in its yard. The aftermath witnessed a supermarket ceiling collapse due to falling missile fragments, according to Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi.
The citizens of Lviv, a city that had largely evaded daily bombardments experienced by other parts of Ukraine, now face an unsettling reality. “There’s no safe place in Ukraine anymore,” stated Olga Bura, a 64-year-old retired economist, as she surveyed the wreckage of her home.
Last month, a particularly devastating attack claimed the lives of ten individuals in Lviv. The assault, described by Mayor Sadovyi as the most significant missile strike on the city’s civilian infrastructure since the invasion, also inflicted damage on a historic building protected by the World Heritage Convention.
Russia Fires 28 Missiles on Ukraine
Amidst this turmoil, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired a total of 28 missiles, both from its territory and warships in the Black Sea. Ukrainian forces managed to intercept 16 of these missiles, according to official statements.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu used a security conference in Moscow to assess Ukraine’s military capabilities. He suggested that despite extensive assistance from Western allies, Ukraine’s armed forces were struggling to achieve results, and its military resources were nearly exhausted.
