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In the early hours of Sunday, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, typically seen as among the most secure locations in the country, endured among its most intense strikes following the start of Vladimir Putin's full-scale military campaign.

For five hours, Russian Shahed drones and rockets struck the urban area, situated about 70km from the border with Poland. Powerful blasts could be heard from the downtown area, a designated UNESCO heritage location.

Casualties and Damage Throughout Ukraine

Across the country, at least five people lost their lives – four individuals in the Lviv region and one in the Zaporizhzhia city. In addition, 14 individuals sustained injuries. Among the victims was a teenage girl, who perished along with three other family members when their residence was impacted.

Sections of Lviv was left without electricity, according to the mayor. Major fires erupted in various locations, such as a civilian industrial park in the southern part of the city.

As the acrid smell of burning and fumes permeated the city, the local administration head encouraged inhabitants to close their windows and refrain from venturing outdoors or to use gas masks or breathing apparatus.

International Reactions and Security Measures

Polish military aviation reported it scrambled jets and implemented defensive measures to protect its territorial skies after a recent violation by deceptive unmanned vehicles. There were also numerous unmanned aircraft observations in recent days in EU countries such as Germany and Denmark.

• More than 50 missiles and approximately 500 attack drones were utilized in the attack.
• Weaponry included cruise missiles, Shahed-type drones and Kinzhal ballistic missiles.
• Several areas were affected, including Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia oblast, Odessa, Kherson, Sumy, Kharkiv oblast and Chernihiv territory.

Call for Global Support

The nation's leader called on allies to strengthen air defences and to impose a no-fly zone – a measure that has so far been approached cautiously.

"An independent cessation of hostilities in the air is attainable – and it is exactly this which could pave the path to genuine negotiations. America and Europe must take action to make Putin cease," the message noted.

In recent days, Russian forces has focused on the nation's power facilities, leading to electricity outages in several areas, a strategy employed in the lead-up to colder months for the past three years. At the same time, Ukraine continues to strike fuel infrastructure deep inside Russia with its domestically developed long-range drones.

Cultural Impact

The city was in the midst of the annual Lviv BookForum, with authors and audiences assembled in the city for a major literary events in eastern Europe.

In addition to Ukrainian writers, including literary figures Julia Musakovska and Artur Dron, there were international speakers including UK-based Forward prizewinning poet Fiona Benson, and, joining by remote connection, the Booker prize-winner Bernardine Evaristo, and the Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk.

On Sunday morning, ash was still falling on the streets of Lviv, as exhausted locals ventured out and attended church services. The damaged wreckage of a Russian drone lay on a pavement outside a apartment building, marked off with red tape.