In the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, thousands of people gathered on Friday to attend the funerals of victims killed in a Russian missile strike that claimed seven lives, including a mother and her three daughters.

The attack, which struck the city’s historic center, also injured more than 30 civilians and deeply shocked Ukrainians as the country endures a new wave of Russian bombings. Lviv, typically spared from the most intense strikes targeting the eastern regions, has now felt the devastating reach of the war.

Among the victims were Yevgenia Bazylevych, 43, and her daughters Emilia (7), Daryna (18), and Yaryna (21). The father, Yaroslav Bazylevych, the only survivor of his family, attended the funeral of his wife and three daughters.

This tragedy has profoundly impacted the city, highlighting the vulnerability of the entire country in the face of continued attacks, despite Ukraine’s continuous resistance to Russian aggression. It is time for Ukraine to be empowered to defend itself against Russia’s indiscriminate targeting of innocent civilians. Ukraine must be allowed to strike Russian military facilities with long-range missiles ! This is a matter of saving lives.

Source: AP News

Photo : AP Photo / Mykola Tys