At Lviv City Hall, rescuers, military personnel and law enforcement officers who were first to arrive at the impact sites and dealt with the aftermath of the massive missile attack on the city on 30 July were formally recognised. On behalf of the community, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi presented them with letters of appreciation and announced cash rewards.
In total, 17 people involved in dealing with the aftermath of the strike received awards: 10 employees of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Lviv Region, two employees of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv Region, two employees of the Patrol Police Department, two servicemen of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a cadet of the National Army Academy. Each of them will receive 20,000 hryvnias from the city.
During the meeting, the Mayor thanked all the services that acted together after the strikes on Lviv, paying particular tribute to the work of the rescuers, police and military personnel who shot down the missiles. He also noted that district administrations and municipal services were actively involved in dealing with the consequences, and that separate awards are being prepared for them.
“The hardest part was getting to the upper floors, where the collapse was, on the 4th and 5th floors. It was difficult to work out exactly where people were, because we could hear their voices but it was hard to reach them, as the concrete slabs were lying one on top of another, and when we started to move them, they began to sink, and we were afraid they would crush people. So we had to do everything with our own hands. In addition, in the first minutes after the tragedy, special equipment could not get to the site — neither turntable ladders nor cranes. And at the same time we had to act as quickly as possible, because every minute could save someone’s life,” said Major of the Civil Protection Service Volodymyr Leliv.
As a reminder, on 30 July Russia launched a massive missile strike on Lviv. The city recorded hits on residential buildings on Vyhovskoho and Patona streets; in total, more than 20 buildings were damaged, as well as a lyceum, a nursery and a library. One person was killed in the attack and more than 30 people were injured.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi had earlier stated that the city would fully rebuild housing for residents who had lost their homes and would cover their rent until reconstruction is complete. Lviv has also increased the amounts of compensation for windows and doors damaged in the shelling.