One Dead, Dozens Injured in Alleged Terrorist Attack in Ukraine, Zelenskyy Reports

Ukrainian authorities have apprehended a suspect in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as a deadly “terrorist attack” in central Lviv that claimed the life of a police officer and wounded 25 others.

The arrest came hours after two coordinated explosions rocked the city center early Sunday morning. According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, investigators believe the attack was orchestrated by Russian special services.

“My condolences to the family and loved ones,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X. “All necessary resources have been provided to the investigation. The required procedural actions involving the detainee are ongoing.”

The incident began around 12:30 a.m. when police received reports of a break-in at a store on Danylyshyn Street. When the first patrol unit arrived at the scene, an explosion occurred. A second blast followed as additional officers responded to the initial explosion.

Investigators determined that improvised explosive devices had been hidden inside garbage bins in the city center. The coordinated nature of the attack suggests it was specifically designed to target responding emergency personnel—a tactic sometimes referred to as a “double tap” bombing.

The attack claimed the life of 23-year-old policewoman Victoria Shpylka and left 25 others injured, with varying degrees of severity. Eleven victims required hospitalization, including six law enforcement officers who remain in serious condition.

Following the explosions, Ukrainian authorities launched a large-scale operation, deploying explosives technicians, canine units, and specialized teams across the city. Their efforts led to the detention of a 33-year-old woman from the Rivne region, who was apprehended near the border area of Stary Sambir.

According to Klymenko, the suspect allegedly manufactured and planted the explosive devices under the direction of a “curator” with ties to Russian intelligence services.

“There is every reason to believe that the crime was committed on the order of Russia,” Klymenko said. “It is not the first time that the enemy purposefully creates death traps for Ukrainian law enforcement officers. And at the same time uses our recruited citizens.”

The bombing in Lviv represents a troubling escalation in what Ukrainian officials have described as Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics. While much of the fighting in the ongoing conflict has been concentrated in eastern and southern Ukraine, Lviv, located in the country’s west near the Polish border, has largely been spared the intense combat seen elsewhere.

The city has served as a relatively safe haven for displaced Ukrainians and a crucial logistics hub for international aid entering the country. An attack in this strategic location raises concerns about Russia potentially expanding its destabilization efforts to previously secure regions of Ukraine.

This incident follows reports of other security threats across Ukraine. Just days ago, Ukrainian authorities announced the arrest of a British suspect allegedly involved in an FSB-directed assassination plot. The pattern suggests an intensified Russian campaign of sabotage and terror tactics behind Ukrainian lines.

The attack comes at a critical moment in the conflict, with Ukrainian forces facing increasing pressure on multiple fronts and concerns about sustained Western military aid. Security analysts note that such terrorist tactics often aim to demoralize civilian populations and stretch already limited security resources.

Ukrainian authorities continue to investigate the bombing, with the Ministry of Internal Affairs expected to provide additional updates as the investigation progresses.