The moment an Iranian drone exploded in the historic center of a Ukrainian city, leaving at least 17 people injured.

LVIV, Ukraine – A drone manufactured in Iran, used by Russia in its offensive against Ukraine, struck the historic center of the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Tuesday, injuring at least 17 people – some seriously – and causing panic among residents. Videos recorded by residents captured the exact moment of the impact, showing the drone plummeting and exploding against a residential building, which immediately caught fire. The attack occurred in broad daylight, an unusual time for such offensives, which typically occur at night. According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched nearly 400 long-range drones in a coordinated operation that targeted multiple locations across the country. In Lviv, located about 60 kilometers from the border with Poland and considered one of the most important cities in western Ukraine, at least three impacts were recorded: two directly caused by drones and a third caused by debris from another intercepted drone. Images of the attack in Lviv, widely circulated on social media, show the violence of the impact and how quickly the fire spread through the building. Emergency services immediately rushed to the scene to evacuate residents and assist the injured. Local sources confirmed that some of the victims were in serious condition. In addition to damage to residential areas, the bombing also struck one of the city's historical landmarks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Bernardino Monastery complex, known as the Church of St. Andrew, located in the heart of the old town. This incident raises concerns about the impact of the conflict on Ukraine's cultural heritage, which has been relatively protected in this region. Air raid sirens had sounded minutes before the attack, as authorities warned the population about the approaching drones. The mayor of Lviv, Andri Sadovyi, urged citizens to avoid recording or sharing real-time images to avoid compromising air defense operations, according to messages posted on his official Telegram channel. This attack on Lviv is part of a broader offensive launched by Russia in the past few hours, which also included the launch of 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles against various regions of Ukraine. In total, at least 10 locations were hit during the night, in one of the largest waves of attacks in recent weeks, which resulted in 35 injuries and 4 deaths. In the city of Dnipro, in central Ukraine, the bombings injured at least 13 people, including three children. In the capital, Kyiv, dozens of drones again attacked during the day, prolonging the pressure on Ukrainian air defenses. In this handout photograph posted on the official Telegram channel of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration on March 24, 2026, Ukrainian rescuers work in a damaged residential building following an air attack in Dnipro, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A barrage of Russian missiles and drones killed five people and wounded more than two dozen across Ukraine on March 24, 2026 in the largest attack in weeks, officials said. (Photo by Handout / Telegram / @dnipropetrovskaODA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / OFFICIAL TELEGRAM CHANNEL OF THE DNIPROPETROVSK REGIONAL MILITARY ADMINISTRATION " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS HANDOUT - Telegram / @dnipropetrovskaODA These attacks coincide with an intensification of Russian operations on the battlefield, where Russian forces are seeking to take advantage of the arrival of good weather to launch a new ground offensive. The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that fierce fighting has been recorded in recent days along the entire line of contact, which extends for about 1250 kilometers. According to the military chief, Russia has carried out 619 attacks in just four days and is mobilizing reinforcements and heavy equipment to maintain pressure on Ukrainian positions. "The occupiers are trying to bring in new units and are preparing to continue the attacks," he said. Russia is taking advantage of the diversion of public attention to the Middle East to deepen its offensive in Ukraine. ANDRIY ANDRIYENKO - 65th Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine In the east of the country, near the city of Lyman, a Ukrainian soldier described the situation as "tense but not critical." According to his testimony, Russian forces have intensified assaults and bombardments, but have not achieved significant advances in recent days. Meanwhile, the civilian population continues to be one of the main victims of a conflict that has been going on for more than four years since the large-scale invasion launched by Russia. Attempts at negotiations led by the United States have so far failed to achieve a ceasefire, and international attention is being diverted by other crises, such as the escalation in the Middle East. Agency AP and newspaper El País War in Ukraine Russia UNESCO