A 23-year-old police officer was killed and 25 people were injured in what authorities described as a terrorist attack in Lviv overnight on Feb. 22, as officials confirmed the detention of a suspected perpetrator.
The blasts damaged a patrol vehicle and a civilian car, and prompted a large-scale response from law enforcement and emergency services.
According to Astra, citing regional authorities and police, the first explosion occurred after patrol officers arrived at a store on Danylyshyna Street following a report of unlawful entry. A second explosion followed when another patrol unit reached the scene.
Mayor calls incident a terrorist attack
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy described the incident as a terrorist act in a statement issued shortly after midnight.
“Lviv. This was a terrorist attack. At present, 14 injured have been hospitalized. Doctors are providing all necessary assistance. Law enforcement and all relevant services are working,” Sadovyi wrote.
He urged residents to remain calm and rely only on official information.
Regional prosecutors said that at approximately 12:30 am, police received a call to the emergency number reporting a break-in at a store located at 20 Danylyshyna Street. Upon arrival of the first patrol unit, an explosion occurred. A second blast followed after the arrival of another crew.
Authorities confirmed that a patrol vehicle and a civilian vehicle were damaged in the explosions.
Officer identified
Regional police later confirmed that the slain officer was 23-year-old Viktoriia Shpylka, originally from Volyn.
Shpylka graduated from Lviv State University of Internal Affairs and joined the patrol police force. She began her career in the Kherson region and had been serving in the Lviv region since 2023.
The number of injured rose to 25, police said in a later update.
Suspect detained
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said police, together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), detained a suspected perpetrator of the attack.
“Police together with the SBU detained the alleged terrorist who attacked law enforcement officers in Lviv. Further operational measures and investigative actions are ongoing. We are identifying other persons involved in committing this crime,” Klymenko said.
He confirmed that 25 people were injured and expressed condolences to the family of the slain patrol officer, Viktoriia Shpylka.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy later stated that the detained suspect is a woman and a citizen of Ukraine.
The investigation is ongoing.