Russia Suspected over Blasts Appearing to Target Ukrainian Police
•February 22, 2026
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Why It Matters
The bombing demonstrates Russia’s expanding asymmetric warfare and tests EU unity, potentially reshaping aid dynamics as Ukraine confronts intensified security threats.
Key Takeaways
- •Two homemade bomb blasts wounded 25, killed officer in Liv
- •Suspect: 33‑year‑old woman from Ravina allegedly acting for Russia
- •Explosions coincided with massive Russian missile and drone assault
- •Hungary and Slovakia threaten blocking EU aid over oil deliveries
- •Incident occurs two days before Ukraine’s invasion anniversary
Summary
A double bombing in the central Ukrainian city of Liv early Sunday night left 25 people injured and killed 23‑year‑old police officer Victoria, prompting the mayor to label the incident a terrorist act.
Authorities say the explosions were caused by homemade devices placed in a shop’s trash bin. CCTV footage released by Ukraine’s national police shows a 33‑year‑old woman from Ravina planting one of the devices, and the interior minister asserted she was acting on Russian orders. The attacks unfolded alongside a massive Russian aerial campaign that launched more than 50 missiles and nearly 300 drones, striking civilian energy infrastructure across the country.
Eyewitnesses described the blast’s shockwave shattering windows and trapping residents under rubble, while a survivor recounted being rescued from a collapsed slab. The mayor’s condemnation, the suspect’s detention, and the timing of the attacks have been used by Kyiv to underscore Russia’s “indiscriminate” retaliation. Meanwhile, Hungary and Slovakia warned they would block EU assistance to Ukraine unless Kyiv resumes oil deliveries through a damaged pipeline.
The incident highlights a widening of Russia’s tactics from conventional strikes to covert sabotage, raising security concerns for Ukrainian police and civilians. It also strains EU solidarity, as member states leverage aid to extract concessions, complicating Kyiv’s diplomatic and logistical response ahead of the fourth anniversary of the invasion.
Original Description
Russia is thought to have been responsible for two bomb explosions which appear to have been set off to target Ukrainian police officers. [Subscribe to our Substack newsletter: https://channel4news.substack.com/subscribe]
A 23-year-old police woman was killed and several people were injured by two improvised explosive devices in Lviv.
Russia also launched almost 300 drones and 50 missiles at Ukraine overnight.
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