Lviv on alert: Air Force and local officials respond to rumored Oreshnik strike
Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command, Yurii Ihnat (Photo: Getty Images)
Regarding the explosions in the Lviv region, Russia is likely to have launched missiles from the Kapustin Yar testing ground in the Astrakhan region. Preliminary reports indicate that the Oreshnik system is based there, though local authorities have not yet confirmed an attack using this weapon, states Yurii Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command.
“We are aware that explosions were heard in the Lviv region. At that time, a missile threat was declared across all of Ukraine. There was a warning about the potential use of ballistic missiles. It is likely that the launches came from the Kapustin Yar testing ground in Russia, after which explosions were heard in the Lviv region,” Ihnat said.
He added that all other information is still being clarified.
Local authorities, in turn, report that it is still unknown whether the Lviv region was attacked with the Oreshnik system - military sources will provide that information, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said.
At the same time, he confirmed that a critical infrastructure facility was hit, resulting in a fire at the incident site.
“All relevant services are working on site, and the fire is being extinguished. There is currently no information about casualties. Civilian facilities and residential buildings in the city were not affected,” the official added.
Russia attacked Lviv on the night of January 9 during a massive strike on Ukraine, which the media had previously warned about. A series of explosions was heard in the city.
Lviv Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi reported that a critical infrastructure facility was targeted in the region.
Russia is targeting critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine on January 9, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned. The enemy’s goal is to leave the population without electricity, heating, and hot water during bad weather and freezing temperatures.
