Title: Russian Drone Strike Sparks Fire and Casualty in Lviv, Ukraine
Date: September 19, 2023
Author: Lidia Kelly
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Russia launched a drone strike on three industrial warehouses in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv early on Tuesday, resulting in a massive fire and the loss of at least one life, according to local officials. The attack occurred amidst Russia’s ongoing aggression towards Ukraine.
Lviv governor Maxim Kozitsky confirmed that firefighters were diligently working to extinguish the flames. Additionally, he reported that a 26-year-old man injured in the incident had been rushed to the hospital. Later, City mayor Andriy Sadovyi sadly announced the discovery of a man’s body, presumed to be a warehouse worker, beneath the rubble.
Emergency services estimate the affected area of the fire to be approximately 9,450 square meters (11,300 square yards). The attack took place around 5 a.m. (0200 GMT), swiftly spreading destruction in its wake.
Kozitsky clarified on the Telegram messaging app that the targeted warehouses were simply industrial facilities, refuting any notion of military-related operations on the premises.
Russian forces were identified as the assailants responsible for launching 18 drones in the attack. Of these, 15 were successfully intercepted and shot down, with seven being directly over the Lviv region at the time of their destruction.
Ukraine’s air force confirmed that Russia had launched a total of 30 drones during overnight attacks, accompanied by one Iskander ballistic missile. Of the drones, 27 were successfully intercepted and eliminated.
As Reuters could not independently verify the report, there has been no immediate response from Moscow. However, it is crucial to note that Russia has frequently conducted air strikes on Ukraine since their full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Moscow’s deliberate targeting of critical infrastructure in Ukraine, including defense systems, energy facilities, and agricultural sites, has been incessant. However, numerous civilian casualties have also occurred as a result. In July, an incident involving a Russian missile striking a residential building in Lviv claimed the lives of at least seven individuals. Notably, Lviv is located far from the front lines of the conflict.
Despite mounting evidence, Moscow continues to deny any intention of deliberately targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure in their military operations.
The situation remains fluid, and further updates regarding the consequences and response to this drone strike are anticipated.
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*Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; additional reporting by Anna Pruchnicka; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Michael Perry, and Timothy Heritage.*
*Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.*