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KYIV, Ukraine — Russian missiles killed no less than 5 individuals and destroyed dozens of houses in Lviv earlier than daybreak on Thursday, in what officers mentioned was the most important assault on the western Ukrainian metropolis since Russia launched its full-scale invasion greater than 16 months in the past.
The authorities mentioned Thursday morning that the ages of the victims ranged from 21 to 95 and warned that there might nonetheless be individuals trapped below rubble. Hours later, they mentioned a fifth physique, a lady, had been pulled from the wreckage and that rescue efforts have been persevering with.
Greater than 30 individuals have been wounded within the strike on Lviv, which is tons of of miles from the entrance strains and has largely been spared the worst violence of the battle. President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed a response, saying on Twitter that it might be a “sturdy one.”
The Ukrainian navy mentioned that Russian forces fired 10 Kalibr cruise missiles from carriers and submarines within the Black Sea. Seven missiles have been intercepted, the navy mentioned, with others hitting the condo advanced and different websites.
“That is the most important assault on Lviv’s civilian infrastructure for the reason that starting of the full-scale invasion,” Andriy Sadovyi, town’s mayor, mentioned in a video posted on Twitter that confirmed him standing in entrance of wrecked vehicles, damaged home windows and particles strewn on the road. He mentioned greater than 50 flats had been destroyed.
Maksym Kozytskyy, the top of the regional navy administration, mentioned {that a} piece of essential infrastructure had additionally been broken however didn’t present particulars.
Within the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Lviv was thought of comparatively protected given its proximity to the border with Poland, a NATO member. But it surely stays nicely inside attain of Moscow’s missiles as preventing rages on the entrance strains.
All through the battle, Russian forces have been shifting their techniques with missile and drone assaults, testing and attempting to exhaust Ukrainian air protection methods. That’s what occurred early on Thursday, in response to Ukraine’s navy, which mentioned a number of teams of missiles have been noticed on radar heading north earlier than “abruptly altering course” to the west.
Hours after the strike, as rescuers and firefighters eliminated chunks of rubble from the blast website, a crowd of about 100 individuals had gathered to look at and await permission from the police to re-enter broken buildings. The air was crammed with mud; damaged glass crackled underfoot.
College students from a close-by dormitory sat on a table-tennis desk, watching the scene. Many wore mismatched garments, having grabbed no matter they may throw on earlier than operating for shelter when the sirens sounded.
Air-raid alerts had began wailing at about 1:30 a.m. in components of Ukraine — together with within the capital, Kyiv — earlier than spreading to different areas. An hour later, the entire nation was marked “purple” on on-line alert maps, with Ukraine’s Air Drive warning that a number of missiles have been shifting towards the west.
The primary reviews of explosions in Lviv quickly adopted. The authorities mentioned air defenses have been working and urged residents to stay in shelters.
“It was very loud,” Mr. Kozytskyy, the top of the regional administration, wrote on the Telegram app simply earlier than 3 a.m., urging individuals to remain in a protected place.
After the all clear was given round 3:20 a.m., ambulance sirens have been heard within the metropolis.
Stanislav Kozliuk contributed reporting from Lviv.
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