On Easter morning, March 31, according to the Gregorian calendar, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine using cruise missiles launched from Tu-95 bombers based in the Saratov region, about 1,000 miles from Ukraine. Throughout the festive night, Russia launched strikes using “shaheeds” across various regions of Ukraine, reaching the central and western regions.
The missiles entered Ukrainian airspace at approximately 5 a.m., flying near the northern part of the Kyiv region, where air defenses were in operation, and heading west.
They quickly reached the Zhytomyr, Rivne, and Ternopil regions, and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi warned of the threat to the city.
The Air Force also reported the direction of missiles towards Lutsk and the threat to Ivano-Frankivsk.
At around 5:50 a.m., missiles had already flown over Lviv in several waves.
Later, the Air Force and local authorities reported that the missiles reached Lviv and hit Stryi.
This city has been the target of Russian strikes during several recent attacks, even having two “daggers.”.
Authorities reported Russian shelling of gas facilities and underground storage facilities.
Monitoring channels also signaled a potential threat to Burshtyn in the Frankivsk region, but the Air Force did not provide information on this, focusing on the warning regarding the regional center.
As in previous days of attacks, the Polish Air Force said it had scrambled its fighter jets due to the proximity of the missiles to the border between the two countries.
Most Western countries celebrate Easter on March 31 according to the Gregorian calendar. Ukrainian Orthodox and Greek Catholics continue to celebrate Easter according to the old style, which this year falls on May 5. However, a significant part of the inhabitants of western Ukraine celebrate this Christian holiday on March 31.
