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In the early hours of Sunday, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, usually regarded as one of the safest locations in the nation, endured among its most sustained attacks since the beginning of Russia's comprehensive invasion.

For five hours, Russian Iranian-designed drones and missiles targeted the city, located around 70km from the border with Poland. Significant blasts could be heard from the city center, a Unesco world heritage site.

Casualties and Damage Across the Country

Across the country, at least five people were killed – four in the Lviv region and one in the city of Zaporizhzhia. In addition, 14 individuals sustained injuries. Included among the casualties was a teenage girl, who perished along with three family members when their residence was hit.

Part of Lviv was left without electricity, according to the mayor. Large fires erupted in multiple areas, including a industrial zone in the southern part of the city.

While the pungent odor of burning and fumes engulfed the city, the local administration head encouraged residents to close their windows and refrain from going outside or to use gas masks or respirators.

International Reactions and Security Measures

Poland's air force stated it deployed fighter aircraft and implemented defensive measures to protect its territorial skies after a recent incursion by Russian decoy drones. Additionally, there were multiple drone sightings last week in EU countries including Denmark and Germany.

• Over fifty rockets and about five hundred unmanned assault vehicles were utilized in the assault.
• Weaponry included long-range guided missiles, Iranian-designed Shaheds and Kinzhal ballistic missiles.
• Several regions were affected, including Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson area, Sumy region, Kharkiv oblast and Chernihiv.

Call for International Support

The nation's leader urged allies to help boost air defense systems and to impose a restricted airspace – a step that has so far been met with reluctance.

"A unilateral ceasefire in the skies is attainable – and it is exactly this which could pave the path to genuine negotiations. The United States and European nations must take action to make Russian leadership stop," the statement emphasized.

In recent days, Russia has targeted the nation's power facilities, causing electricity outages in several areas, a tactic employed in the approach to colder months for the past three years. At the same time, Ukraine continues to strike oil production facilities within Russian territory with its own long-range drones.

Cultural Impact

The city was in the midst of the annual Lviv BookForum, with writers and attendees assembled in the city for one of the largest book festivals in the region.

In addition to Ukrainian writers, including poets Julia Musakovska and Artur Dron, there were international speakers including British award-winning poet Fiona Benson, and, participating by video link, the Booker prize-winner Bernardine Evaristo, and the Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk.

By Sunday morning, ash was still falling on the streets of the city, as exhausted residents ventured out and participated in religious gatherings. The damaged wreckage of a unmanned aircraft lay on a pavement near a apartment building, marked off with red tape.