A Ukrainian military base was targeted in a Russian missile attack early on Tuesday morning as a series of loud explosions rocked the western city of Lviv.
The military base is located about nine miles from the border with Poland.
Air raid sirens sounded and reporters on the ground witnessed the glare of the bright explosions igniting into the night sky to the west of the city about 12.45am local time.
Witnesses heard at least eight explosions, followed by distant booms. The smell of burning filled the air some time later. The city is currently under curfew from 11pm to 6am.
Speaking on the missile attack, Makysym Kozytskyy, the region’s governor, on Telegram said: “According to preliminary information, air defences worked.”
Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, on Facebook said he could not confirm any information about the missiles striking the city.
“Let’s thank those who protect our sky for this,” Mr Sadovyi said.
“In the morning we will give more accurate information. Take care of yourself and do not ignore air alarms.”
The Yavoriv military base, in the Lviv region, has been targeted at least three times since the beginning of the war.
Follow the latest updates below.
03:10 AM
Ukraine alleges 229 children murdered in Russia’s war
Ukraine’s Parliament has alleged 229 children have been murdered by Russian fighters in the war against Ukraine.
“We’ll never forgive and forget,” it said on Twitter.
02:29 AM
Europe accused of ‘double standard’ on Ukrainian refugees
The head of the world’s largest humanitarian network said the quick acceptance of Ukrainians fleeing war shined a light on Europe’s “double standard” on other refugees, including those fleeing violence in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere.
Francesco Rocca, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said he doesn’t think “there is any difference” between someone fleeing Ukraine and someone escaping the Boko Haram extremist group in Nigeria.
“Those who are fleeing violence, those who are seeking protection, should be treated equally,” Mr Rocca said on Monday.
02:15 AM
UN warns of ‘catastrophic’ child malnutrition due to price hikes, war
More than 600,000 children could miss out on life-saving treatment for severe malnutrition due to price hikes of ingredients caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and pandemic disruptions, the United Nations’ children’s agency has warned.
UNICEF said the raw ingredients of the ready-to-eat-therapeutic food have climbed in price and without further funding in the next six months, hundreds of thousands of children may miss out on the essential treatment.
The therapeutic food is a high-energy paste made of ingredients including peanuts, oil, sugar and added nutrients.
The price rise could lead to “catastrophic” levels of severe malnutrition, the children’s agency said.
“The world is rapidly becoming a virtual tinderbox of preventable child deaths and child suffering from wasting,” UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said.
02:05 AM
In pictures: Wounded Ukrainian soldiers evacuate Mariupol
01:24 AM
Ukraine ends mission to defend Azovstal steel plant
Ukraine’s military command said the mission to defend the besieged Azovstal steel plant by “the heroes of our time” in the strategic southern port of Mariupol is over and pledged to rescue the soldiers still trapped inside.
“The ‘Mariupol’ garrison has fulfilled its combat mission,” the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in a statement in the early hours of Tuesday.
“The Supreme Military Command ordered the commanders of the units stationed at Azovstal to save the lives of their personnel,” the statement read.
“The defenders of Mariupol are heroes of our time. They will forever be marked down in history. This includes the special ‘Azov’ unit, the 12th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, the 36th Separate Brigade of Marines, border guards, police, volunteers, the Territorial Defense of Mariupol.”
01:01 AM
Today’s top stories
-
Ukrainian fighters evacuated from the Azovstal plant will be exchanged for captured Russian soldiers, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister said
-
More than 260 Ukrainian soldiers holed up in the Azovstal steel plant for 82 days were evacuated to Russian-controlled towns on Monday night
-
The western Ukrainian city of Lviv was rocked by a number of very loud explosions in the early hours of Tuesday morning
-
Ukrainian forces reached the border with Russia on Monday in a move military experts said would allow them to strike at the heart of Moscow’s supply lines
-
Sweden will formally apply for membership in Nato as a deterrent against Russian aggression, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said Monday
-
Deployment of Nato military infrastructure in Finland and Sweden will trigger a response from Moscow, Vladimir Putin warned
-
The Governor of the Bank of England has claimed that policy makers have been left helpless in the face of surging inflation amid the Ukraine war
-
Russia attacked positions in eastern Ukraine as it tries to encircle Ukrainian forces in the Donbas and fend off a counteroffensive around the city of Izium
-
More than 650 victims were “executed” by Russian soldiers in the Bucha region during a month under occupation, Kyiv officials said
-
Ukrainian border guards repelled an incursion by a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group in the northeastern region of Sumy on Monday, the governor of the Sumy region said
