Vänsterpartiet Leaders Seek Shelter During Intense Russian Missile Attacks in Lviv
Swedish Vänsterpartiet leaders, including Nooshi Dadgostar, sheltered from a major Russian missile attack in Lviv, witnessing firsthand the conflict's impact before returning home.
- • Vänsterpartiet leaders were caught in a major Russian missile and drone attack in Lviv, Ukraine.
- • They took shelter in a bomb shelter after explosions woke them around 3 AM.
- • The attack involved over 500 drones and 50 missiles, causing multiple casualties including five deaths.
- • After the attack, the politicians traveled to Poland and are now returning to Sweden.
- • They expressed sympathy for affected families and witnessed destruction caused by the bombardment.
Key details
Swedish Vänsterpartiet leaders, including party leader Nooshi Dadgostar and EU parliamentarians Jonas Sjöstedt and Hanna Gedin, faced a harrowing experience in Lviv, Ukraine, amidst a significant Russian missile and drone attack. The politicians were in Lviv over the weekend to meet with Ukrainian leftist groups, trade unions, and women's organizations resisting Russian aggression.
Their visit took a dramatic turn late at night when a major Russian offensive struck. The Ukrainian rescue service reported that over 500 drones and 50 missiles were launched in the attack, which lasted about five hours and resulted in around ten injuries and five deaths, four of which were in the Lviv region—one of the hardest-hit areas. The politicians were awakened around 3 AM by explosions prompting them to quickly seek refuge in a bomb shelter.
Nooshi Dadgostar described the urgency and shock of rushing to safety, emphasizing the constant fear faced by local residents. Jonas Sjöstedt expressed deep sympathy for the families affected, particularly noting the sight of people carrying small children wrapped in blankets amid the chaos. After the attack subsided, the delegation left Lviv for Poland and were en route back to Sweden. They witnessed the aftermath firsthand, including destruction of residential buildings directly hit by missiles.
This incident underscores the ongoing dangers in the region and the humanitarian impact of the conflict. The presence of Swedish politicians in Lviv during these attacks highlights their commitment to understanding and supporting Ukrainian civil and political movements under threat.
In other news items reported alongside, unrelated to the Lviv event, events include deportation of activists from Israel, a suspected grenade found in Stockholm, and severe weather causing distress on Mount Everest.
The Vänsterpartiet leaders' experience presents a vivid eyewitness account of the conflict's intensity and its toll on civilians amidst escalating Russian military aggression in Ukraine.