Apprehension of the Lviv Attack Perpetrator
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and National Police have arrested the individual responsible for a terrorist attack in Lviv during the night of February 22. The assault resulted in the death of one police officer and left 25 people, including a minor, wounded. Authorities managed to detain the female suspect within 10 hours of the crime being committed.
The perpetrator was identified as a 33-year-old native of the Rivne region. She had constructed three improvised explosive devices and then called the emergency line 102 to lure law enforcement to the scene. The first device detonated upon the arrival of patrol officers; subsequent explosions were triggered as additional police and National Guard units arrived. A smartphone was discovered in the suspect's apartment, set up to livestream the events directly to her Russian handlers, who remotely activated the bombs.
Investigation and Aftermath
The terrorist was captured at the railway station in Sambir, where evidence of her collaboration with Russia was seized. According to Ivan Rudnytskyi, the SBU has been investigating this attack from its first moments. He noted that after the explosions, the suspect intended to flee Ukrainian territory, but law enforcement officers thwarted her plans. The detainee has been charged with:
- Committing a terrorist act, under Part 3 of Article 258;
- Illegal handling of weapons, under Article 263.
Commenting on the situation, Ihor Klymenko stated that Russia is using Ukrainian citizens to carry out terrorist acts, and that these recruited individuals often receive no material benefits, instead facing real threats to their own lives.
This attack in Lviv is part of a broader strategy of using terrorism as a tool for destabilization within Ukraine. This incident highlights the ongoing hybrid warfare tactics employed against the country, extending beyond the front lines. Authorities emphasize the threat posed by such acts and the necessity of enhanced security measures. The case of the detained woman also illustrates how vulnerable citizens can be exploited to execute criminal plans, underscoring the importance of social outreach and informational campaigns to prevent terrorism.