A Russian strike on Lviv, an ancient, historic city of Ukraine located in the west of the country, left more than 22 people injured and hit a UNESCO heritage site.
Flames were seen rising from a building next to the 17th-century St Andrew’s Church and the Bernardine Monastery in the city, located less than 100 kilometers from the border with the European Union.
Russian drones had struck a 9-story residential building and a building in the historic center of the city, which is part of UNESCO heritage — a two-story residential building that makes up part of the ensemble of the ancient Bernardine Monastery on Soborna Square.
There have been no fatalities reported as of yet as a result of the attack on Lviv. The strike site was quickly cordoned off.
While rescue workers did their job at the scene, some local residents stayed in shelters, while others came to regard the damage.
The center of Lviv is a unique historical ensemble of old buildings from the late Middle Ages and the early modern period, included in the UNESCO list of heritage sites, and a source of pride for the city’s residents.
Lviv, being a rear city, is out of reach for Russian ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles rarely get to it. As such, it tends to be considered one of the safer of Ukraine’s cities.
Because of this, the strike, which was carried out using Shahed drones, caused shock among the city’s residents.
As the center of western Ukraine, Lviv has hosted hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons from the east of the country, where active hostilities are ongoing.
However, very soon after the assault residents were seen returning to work, and shops, businesses, and bars reopened their doors to visitors.
Even deliveries returned to work in the minutes after the strike, though mostly on foot or bike, since part of the city center was cordoned off.
Residents returned to the streets within minutes and the city’s sidewalks became crowded again.
Traffic jams reappeared on the roads.
Amid the strikes, residents found time to work, to live, and, most importantly, to love. Unbroken, they are full of life, faith in victory, and strength.