Lviv, Ukraine: Explosions rocked the western Ukrainian city of Lviv overnight, killing a 23-year-old policewoman and injuring at least 15 people in an incident authorities described as a deliberate “act of terror.”
According to reports, the blasts occurred around 12:30 a.m. local time (2230 GMT Saturday) after police responded to a reported break-in at a shop in the city center.
According to the Lviv regional prosecutor’s office, the first explosion struck just as the initial patro
l arrived at the scene. Moments later, a second blast hit when a backup crew reached the area, damaging a patrol car and a nearby civilian vehicle. The attacks appeared designed to target responding officers in a “double-tap” tactic.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy confirmed the details in a Facebook post early Sunday, stating: “This is definitely an act of terror. We have 15 people currently receiving medical aid, some of them in very serious condition. One policewoman died. My condolences to the family and close ones.”
Reports varied on the exact injury toll, with some outlets citing up to 25 wounded, including fellow officers and civilians. The slain officer was identified as Viktoriia Shpylka.
Lviv, near the Polish border and distant from the front lines of Russia’s full-scale invasion launched in February 2022, has seen sporadic strikes but rare deadly incidents in its city centre.