Hundreds Mourn Mother and Daughters Killed in Russian Strike on Lviv

LVIV, Ukraine – On Friday, hundreds of residents gathered in a church to mourn the tragic loss of three sisters and their mother, who were killed in a Russian strike that targeted their home in Lviv, a city located hundreds of miles from the front lines of conflict.

The drone and missile attack on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of seven civilians, with over 50 others injured. The victims included Yevheniia Bazylevych, 43, and her three daughters: Yaryna, 21, Dariia, 18, and Emiliia, 7.

As mourners processed towards the church, a choir sang while many attendees held sunflowers and some were dressed in traditional Ukrainian attire. Yaroslav Bazylevych, the sisters’ father, was seen weeping and embracing supporters near the open white coffins of his wife and daughters, visibly marked by injuries sustained during the strike.

“I’ve never met such people in my life," shared Oleksandra Petryuk, a close friend of one of the sisters, who was visibly emotional outside the church.

"I don’t understand why it should be so unfair. Why must their bright family die like that? What for? Why them?" she questioned.

While Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians, its military actions have resulted in the deaths of thousands during its full-scale invasion that began in February 2022. Russian forces frequently launch strikes on locations throughout Ukraine, asserting that these attacks aim to disrupt the country’s ability to sustain its defense efforts.