At least seven people were killed in Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Lviv overnight, a day after one of the deadliest rocket attacks since the start of the war. Lviv is about 60 kilometers from the border with Poland, a member of NATO and the European Union. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba submitted his resignation on Wednesday, ahead of expected changes in the government cabinet.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said on Wednesday that three children were among the victims of the Russian attack in Lviv.
“Lviv was targeted by a combined missile and drone attack. Dwellings in two neighborhoods of Lviv were hit, more than seventy houses in total. Most of them are architectural monuments, so the restoration will follow a special protocol. We know what we have to do, but the biggest pain is the loss of life,” he said.
Regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi said on the Telegram messaging app that two girls, aged 9 and 14, were among the dead. The State Emergency Services of Ukraine said the number of injured has reached 52.
“The rocket attack continued for a long time, their impact was powerful, the noise was incredible. In shock, I ended up down the hall in another room. We all ran in the dark. I saw that the kitchen window had fallen”, says witness Andrii Zamrii.
The attack came a day after two ballistic missiles hit a military academy and a hospital in Poltava, Ukraine, killing more than 50 people and wounding more than 200 others, in one of Russia's deadliest attacks since the start of the war.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba resigned on Wednesday after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hinted last week that he would soon reshuffle the government. Mr. Kuleba has been one of Ukraine's most popular figures on the diplomatic scene. He has not stated the reasons for his resignation.
President Zelenskiy said Ukraine needed “new energy” as he warned of the biggest government reshuffle since Russia launched its war on Ukraine, which is at a critical point.
“I am very grateful to all the ministers and the government team who worked for Ukraine and Ukrainians for four and a half years, five years. Today we need new energies and these steps are aimed at strengthening the state in many directions. International politics, diplomacy is no exception. I cannot predict what each minister will do in the future. There will be more clarity when the new posts are offered. Today it is too early to talk about this,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
He spoke during a press conference in Kiev with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris. More resignations and appointments are expected over the next few days, with five ministers resigning on Tuesday.
Mr. Zelenskiy needs to keep morale up in Ukraine amid the bitter war with Russia that began 30 months ago and ahead of another difficult winter. The deadly attack in Lviv, near the border of NATO member Poland and far from the front lines, is another reminder of how all of Ukraine is at risk.
The Ukrainian military's incursion almost a month ago into Russia's Kursk border region boosted Ukrainian morale and served as a counterbalance to months of grim news from the front line in eastern Ukraine.
The ultimate objectives of the incursion are unclear, although Mr Zelensky says Ukraine wants to create a neutral zone to prevent Russian cross-border attacks, as well as strengthen Kiev's negotiating positions in the future.
Among the considerations of Ukrainian President Zelensky are the November presidential elections in the US, which could bring about a change in the critical US military support for his country.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin remains determined for the Russian military to advance deeper into eastern Ukraine.
