"It was quite something": Lviv residents speak about morning Russian attack 

The sound of broken glass echoes everywhere, and burnt-out cars are scattered along the roadside. Employees of the pharmacy near the explosion's epicenter report that the building might have survived if not for the cars. The intense heat from the burning vehicles caused the windows to shatter and the facade to be damaged. Now, they are in the process of cleaning up the pharmacy.

Commission will examine the destruction

People now need to gather documents detailing the damage to their homes. They can only submit these documents for compensation after a commission inspects the site of the destruction.

Some individuals are permitted to enter their apartments to assess the damage or retrieve necessary items. Oleksiy was fortunate; he managed to access his rented apartment on Mikhnovskykh Street. He considers himself lucky that he did not spend the night at home but instead stayed at his girlfriend’s place.

“Although we were not far from this street, everything remained intact. We heard the explosion and immediately crouched down. It was quite something. I’m not an expert, but it was very frightening.

The house we were in was old, and the ceiling was shaking from the roof. We waited until the explosions subsided and then came here, to my rented apartment,” says Oleksiy.

Now the windows in his apartment are smashed. Although the man says it is nothing critical, he has to record this fact.

 “The windows were smashed, there is some damage above the door. The main blow was in the middle of the house, and my apartment is on the edge, so the damage is not so significant. The owner is not in Ukraine, so I want to find out if I can record these damages. I was informed that they will now draw up inspection reports and come to the apartments,” he explained.

The algorithm of actions is such that an application for compensation can be written only after the commission receives the inspection report.

Not everyone took shelter

At the time of our arrival (around 10:30 a.m.), Kvitky-Osnovianenka Street was not as clean as the previous location, as the firefighters had only recently finished extinguishing the fire. In the shops, shop assistants are trying to save the surviving goods. Concerned residents also come and offer their help. 

Stefania, a local resident who lives nearby, reported that the sound was extremely loud. Although her husband was planning to go to work, he stayed home that night and did not leave. Fortunately, their house was not damaged.

Olena came to Morozenka Street from Konovaltsia Street, where a missile also struck today. She noted that the destruction on Morozenka Street is less severe compared to Konovaltsia Street. “I came here to see and compare the damage,” she said, describing the roofs on fire and the casualties on Konovaltsia Street. Despite the attack, she was unable to go to the shelter because her husband is a quadriplegic.

• During the night and early morning of September 4, Russia launched UAVs and missiles at Ukraine, with the primary impact targeting western Ukraine.