(CNN) –– Russia The missile strikes took place this Friday near the airport in Lviv, the strategic city of Ukraine It’s not far off From the Polish border. Precisely this is the place that has largely survived the relentless bombings that plagued much of the country during the war.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said several missiles struck the aircraft repair plant. But he said work on the facility had been suspended prior to the attacks and there were no reports of casualties.
Preliminary reports suggest that Russia fired six missiles into the Lviv on Friday morning, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They also mentioned that these were probably cruise missiles launched from the air by warplanes over the Black Sea.
Two of the six missiles were intercepted by air defense systems, according to a military report on Facebook.
The attack adds to concerns that Russia’s war in Ukraine could spread further west.
Here is what you need to know about Lviv and why it is so important for Ukraine.
Living place
Liv is at the gates of NATO, 70 kilometers from the Polish border. So if the attacks increase in this place they may unleash international repercussions.
The attack on Friday came after Russia launched a barrage of missiles Against the Yavoriv military base, Sunday is located between the border of Lviv and Poland. At least 35 people were killed in the blast.
Refugees
Liv has become a safe haven for Ukrainians fleeing Russia and other parts of the war-torn country.
Currently, the city has a population of more than 700,000 and more than 200,000 internally displaced people, the mayor says. People flock to Lviv in search of relative safety. And many use it as a platform before crossing the border.
Logistics
The vast region serves as an important arms supply route for Ukraine’s military and a broader resistance effort to thwart Moscow’s plans for a bombing invasion.
The supply routes in western Ukraine have become even more important as Russia has blocked sea routes and laid siege to the south of the country. To the north is Belarus, which hosts Russian troops and is one of the launching pads for the invasion.
Liv’s culture and history
The Lviv Historic Center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In addition, the National Museum houses the country’s most extensive medieval sacred art and rare religious manuscripts.
According to the city’s official website, Live was the site of Ukraine’s first mass action in support of independence during the fall of communism.
On September 17, 1989, Lviv became the site of the largest demonstration in support of the revival of Ukrainian independence with 100,000 participants.
The Law on the Independence of the State of Ukraine was passed on August 24, 1991. Hundreds of people flooded the streets of Liv during the celebrations the next day.
“As the undeniable capital of Ukrainian culture, spirituality and national identity, Liv has always been instrumental in the development of democracy and the struggle for Ukrainian independence,” says its website.
At one point, Lviv was part of the Habsburg monarchy, then known as Lemberg. But during the Soviet era it became a real stronghold of Ukrainian national opposition. According to the country’s official tourism site.
details On the UNESCO site They describe how Lviv, founded in the late Middle Ages, became a prosperous administrative, religious and business center over the centuries. Until the invasion, according to UNESCO, the medieval urban landscape, as well as many Baroque and later buildings in the city, were well preserved.
UNESCO Said Earlier this month he was in permanent contact with all relevant organizations in Ukraine and with Ukrainian cultural experts to assess the situation and strengthen the protection of cultural property.
At the outset of the conflict, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azole said: “We must preserve the cultural heritage of Ukraine as a testament to the past, but also as a catalyst for peace and unity for the future, and the international community.
Time based
The city has also become a temporary home for many media outlets and embassies that have been forced to relocate from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
