Russian forces attacked central Lviv on Tuesday, potentially damaging a UNESCO World Heritage site, prompting Poland to deploy fighter jets.
Russian Attack on Lviv’s Center
The head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, reported that Russian forces struck the center of Lviv on Tuesday, March 24th, potentially damaging a UNESCO World Heritage site. BBC News reports the attack hit the Bernardine Monastery.
The Polish Consul General in Lviv reported a drone struck just meters from a church. Lviv’s historic city center was recognized as a place of “outstanding universal value” and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
Damage to UNESCO Sites
Ukrainian Prime Minister Julia Svrydenko stated that the 17th-century St. Andrew’s Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was damaged in the Russian attack. She wrote on X that Russia is attacking crowded city centers in broad daylight, with Russian-Iranian drones seriously injuring two people.
Casualties and Damage Assessment
Kyiv Post reports at least two people were seriously injured in the attack. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported damage to a residential building and impacts in three city districts, with emergency services working at the scene.
Polish Sites Targeted
The Polish Consul General in Lviv, Marek Radziwon, stated the drones targeted locations important to Poland, near the Bernardine Monastery and the Historical Archives, which hold valuable Polish documents.
One drone reportedly fell near Soborna Square, close to the Bernardine Monastery and Archives. The Lviv City Historical Archives hold the most valuable Polish manuscript and book collections, representing one of the three most important locations for Polish archival heritage in Lviv.
Polish Military Response
The Operational Command of the Armed Forces reported the commencement of Polish and allied aviation operations in Polish airspace in response to the attack.
The Command stated that necessary forces and means were activated, including fighter jets and helicopters, with air defense and radar reconnaissance systems placed on high alert. These actions are preventative and aimed at securing and protecting airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to threatened zones.
Wider Russian Attacks
Overnight from Monday to Tuesday, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 34 missiles and 392 drones. Local authorities reported at least five deaths and over 20 injuries in the Kharkiv, Poltava, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office reported a direct hit on a Slatyne-Kharkiv electric train, killing a 61-year-old passenger. The train driver and assistant experienced severe stress. Initial reports indicate a Russian FPV drone was used in the attack.
Russian forces also attacked the Poltava region, resulting in two deaths and 11 injuries. Numerous explosions were reported in Poltava. In Zaporizhzhia, one person was killed and nine injured in a massive attack involving drones and ballistic missiles, targeting residential areas and infrastructure, damaging 20 apartment buildings and six private homes.
In the morning of Tuesday, Russian forces shelled the central district of Kherson with multiple rocket launchers, killing one person and injuring two. Ukrainian Air Forces reported Russia used 34 missiles and 392 drones in the overnight attacks, downing 25 missiles and 365 drones, with six missile and 27 drone strikes impacting 22 locations.