Policewoman killed, 15 wounded in Lviv explosions local authorities call ‘act of terror’; Kyiv rattled by predawn blasts
LVIV, Ukraine — A 23-year-old policewoman was killed and at least 15 people were wounded in a pair of explosions that struck central Lviv overnight, an incident local authorities on Sunday called an “act of terror.” Hours later, a separate wave of predawn blasts shook Kyiv amid warnings of a ballistic missile attack.
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The Lviv regional prosecutor’s office said the blasts occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m., when police responded to a report of a break-in at a shop in the city center. A first explosion hit as the initial patrol arrived, followed by a second blast moments later when another unit reached the scene.
Officials said the slain officer was a 23-year-old woman. A patrol car and a civilian vehicle were also damaged in the blasts.
Local authorities said at least 15 people were receiving medical treatment, with several reported in very serious condition. They offered condolences to the officer’s family and colleagues.
Lviv, a western Ukrainian city near the Polish border and far from the front line, has endured intermittent strikes and security incidents since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Fatal explosions in the city center remain rare, underscoring the shock that rippled through a region seen by many Ukrainians as a relative sanctuary from the war’s daily violence.
In the capital, AFP journalists reported a series of loud detonations starting around 4 a.m., shortly after an air raid alert was issued. “The enemy is attacking the capital with ballistic weapons,” the head of Kyiv’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, said on Telegram, urging residents to remain in shelters.
Ukraine’s air force later extended the alert nationwide, warning of a broader missile threat as people in multiple regions sought cover. Authorities did not immediately provide details on damage or casualties in Kyiv.
The overnight attacks came two days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, a date often associated with escalated strikes and heightened alerts across the country. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that Russia is seeking to stretch air defenses by mixing drone and missile barrages with ground operations along the front.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Lviv blasts. The sequence of explosions timed to the arrival of first responders suggested a deliberate attempt to target emergency crews, a tactic seen previously in the conflict.
Emergency services and law enforcement maintained cordons at the sites in Lviv on Sunday as medical teams treated the wounded. Officials urged residents to heed alerts and avoid sharing images or locations of impact sites on social media, citing operational security.
As investigators worked to establish the circumstances of the Lviv explosions, the broader missile alerts underscored the unpredictability of strike patterns across Ukraine — from the western regions that border NATO territory to the capital and cities closer to the front — and the continued risks facing civilians and first responders alike.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
