Ukraine: 'Terror attack' kills policewoman, wounds 15
A policewoman was killed and at least 15 people were wounded in explosions in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv overnight, an incident local authorities have condemned as an 'act of terror'.
On February 22, 2026, a terrorist attack in Lviv, Ukraine killed 23-year-old policewoman Viktoriya Shpylka and wounded at least 25 people, with reports varying between 23-25 injured including 3 in critical condition. The attack occurred around 00:30 local time when police responded to a reported break-in at a store on Danylyshyn Street in central Lviv. The first patrol unit triggered an explosion from homemade explosive devices hidden in garbage bins, followed by a second blast when reinforcements arrived. Shpylka, who had joined the patrol in 2023 and married another officer in autumn 2025, died in the attack. Eleven victims were hospitalized, including six law enforcement officers in serious condition, with three requiring ventilators.
Ukrainian authorities, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, immediately labeled the incident a 'terrorist act' linked to Russian special services. A 33-year-old woman from the Rivne region was detained hours later near Stary Sambir, accused of manufacturing and planting the explosive devices under the direction of a 'curator.' The investigation continues under Articles 258 (terrorist act causing death) and 263 (illegal explosives handling) of Ukraine's Criminal Code, with ongoing efforts to identify accomplices. A large-scale police operation involved explosives experts and canine units.
This terrorist attack coincided with separate Russian missile and drone strikes overnight on multiple Ukrainian regions including Kyiv and Dnipro, which killed one man and injured 15 people (including children) in Kyiv. The attacks occurred amid the looming four-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24. President Zelenskyy noted ongoing Russian aggression despite peace talks, stating that this week alone, Russia had launched more than 1,300 drone attacks against Ukraine.
No coverage of this specific incident was found in major Philippine news sources including GMA, ABS-CBN, Inquirer, or Philstar as of February 2026. These Philippine outlets primarily focus on domestic news and did not appear to have reported on this particular Ukraine terror attack. The incident represents a significant escalation in violence within Ukraine's western regions, which have been relatively more secure compared to eastern and southern areas directly affected by frontline fighting.
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