Ukraine detains suspected bomber after Lviv double-tap attack kills policewoman, injures 25— accomplices still sought

A double-tap bombing in central Lviv killed a 23-year-old policewoman and injured 25 people overnight on 22 February, in what authorities classified as a terrorist attack. Police and SBU detained the suspected female bomber within hours in a town in Lviv Oblast, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported. The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement searching for possible accomplices.

This comes as Russia continues its daily terror attacks, using long-range drones and missiles to target Ukraine's power grid and other civilian targets.

Fake break-in call lured police into a bomb trap

At 00:30 on 22 February, Lviv police received an emergency call about a break-in at a shop on Danylyshyna Street, 20, near the city center, Lviv Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported. When the first patrol crew arrived at the scene, an explosion went off. A second blast struck around 00:43, as a backup crew reached the location.

The building where the explosions occurred was not residential — it housed shops, Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi said. A Suspilne correspondent reported the blasts occurred near the Magnus shopping center.

The explosions damaged a patrol car, a civilian vehicle, and nearby buildings, shattering windows and facades. Residents heard the blasts not only in Lviv but also outside the city.

23-year-old policewoman killed, six officers in serious condition

The attack killed 23-year-old patrol officer Viktoriia Shpylka, Ukraine's National Police confirmed. She had graduated from Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, served in Kherson Oblast, and transferred to Lviv Oblast in 2023. Interior Minister Klymenko reported that 25 people were injured. Eleven remained hospitalized at the time of his statement, with six law enforcement officers in serious condition. 

"Police go out on calls every day and every night, not knowing what awaits them. But they rush to help, because protecting people is their main duty," Klymenko wrote. 

Authorities opened a case under Part 2, Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — a terrorist act causing serious consequences.

Suspect detained within hours, search for accomplices continues

Law enforcement detained the suspected female bomber in one of the district centers of Lviv Oblast, Klymenko said during a briefing aired by Suspilne.

"We did everything possible and impossible to identify those who committed this terrorist attack," the interior minister said. 

Lviv Oblast prosecutor Mykola Mereta confirmed that the detained person is suspected of being the direct perpetrator of the crime. Mereta added that the work on identifying other individuals involved is ongoing. He іфшв that many procedural steps remain ahead to reconstruct the events before, during, and after the attack. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the detention, saying Interior Minister Klymenko reported the arrest of the suspect in the Lviv terrorist attack. 

"My condolences to the families. [...] The investigation has been given all necessary resources. Procedural actions with the detained person are ongoing," Zelenskyy wrote.