A police officer was killed in a nighttime terrorist attack in the centre of Lviv. Twenty-five people got injuries.
Details of the Attack
In the early hours of February 22, residents of Lviv heard two explosions. There was no air raid alert in the city. Later authorities confirmed it was a terrorist attack. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported from the scene about the damages of buildings as a result of the blast. Among the wounded are police officers and civilians.
According to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, 25 people got injuries. The National Police of Ukraine stated that improvised explosive devices had detonated. A 23-year-old police officer died. The statement said the explosions occurred at the location where police officers had been dispatched.
“At around 00:30 today, a report was received on the 102 emergency line about a break-in at a store on Danylyshyna Street. After a patrol police crew arrived at the scene, an explosion occurred. Later, when a second crew arrived, another explosion went off,” the National Police of Ukraine reported.
The Lviv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office announced the launch of a pre-trial investigation into a terrorist act that caused severe consequences. According to Minister Ihor Klymenko, law enforcement officers have already detained a suspected perpetrator of the attack in Lviv. There is an information that the suspect is a woman and a citizen of Ukraine. The investigation is ongoing.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the attack.
“My condolences to the family and loved ones… All necessary resources have been provided to the investigation. The required procedural actions involving the detainee are ongoing. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will provide further updates as needed. Thank you to everyone who is helping!” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
Condition of the Injured
Twenty patients are the hospitals of the First Medical Association of Lviv following the attack. Three of them are in intensive care in critical condition.
“There are three critically ill patients in intensive care. Another three seriously injured patients are in the surgical department, while the rest, with moderate injuries, are being treated at our hospital. All have received medical care, emergency surgeries have been performed, and their condition is stabilizing,” said doctor Oleh Samchuk in a comment to Suspilne.Lviv.
Fallen Police Officer Viktoriia Shpylka
The deceased, Viktoriia Shpylka, was a senior police lieutenant. She was originally from Volyn and later moved with her parents to Kherson. Viktoriia joined the patrol police after graduating from Lviv State University of Internal Affairs. She first served in the Kherson region and, since 2023, in the Lviv region.
“Colleagues remember her as empathetic, bright, and sincere. She knew how to support others, to listen, to find warm words even on the hardest day. She never complained; instead, she smiled and went on duty because she knew people were waiting for her. Faithful to her oath. Fair. With a deep sense of duty,” the National Police said in a statement.
Last autumn, Viktoriia got married. Her husband is also a patrol officer. They served together, dreamed, and built their future.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported on the death of a Ukrainian woman abroad. In the United States, Ukrainian refugee Kateryna Tovmash and her boyfriend were shot in a private home on the night of February 14.
