Large-scale filming of the historical drama miniseries “Lviv Story” has begun in the centre of Lviv. Work on the project will run from 5 to 15 October on several streets and squares in the city, so temporary restrictions on traffic and parking are planned for this period. This was reported by Lviv City Council.
According to the production director of the project “Lviv Story”, Yuliia Vasylieva, the series will consist of six episodes set in Lviv between 1914 and 1921, against the backdrop of the First World War and subsequent events. At the heart of the plot are the stories of several families who go through the severe trials of wartime.
“This is a Ukrainian product — about us, Ukrainians, and a large professional team is working on it. It is important for us to do this for our country, and we are hoping this project will have a major international journey,” said Yuliia Vasylieva.
In total, eight filming days with a packed schedule are planned. From 5 to 9 October the crew is working on Angels Square in front of the entrance to the Garrison Church. On 10 October filming is scheduled on Lystopadovoho Chynu Street and Kopernyka Street, and on 11 October — on Rynok Square. On 14 and 15 October episodes will be shot on Kovzhuna Street and at the junction of Martovycha, Popovycha and Hryhorovycha streets.
While the camera is rolling at these locations, motor and electric transport will be halted situationally for up to 7–10 minutes — without full, prolonged closures. As explained by the Director of the Department of Urban Mobility and Infrastructure of Lviv City Council, Oleh Zabarylo, the filming schedule has been staggered in time and space to minimise inconvenience for drivers and passengers.
On Saturday, 10 October, short-term traffic closures are expected on the stretch from Lystopadovoho Chynu Street to St Yura Square in the afternoon. Between takes, public transport and private vehicles will be allowed to move again. On Sunday, 11 October, traffic around Rynok Square will operate under the same pattern: trams No. 1 and No. 2 will not be stopped completely; their movement will be halted only for the duration of shooting individual shots.
Additional changes concern parking: on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — 13, 14 and 15 October — parking will be prohibited on Kovzhuna, Popovycha, Martovycha and Hrygorovycha streets. In addition, the junction of Martovycha, Hryhorovycha and Popovycha streets will be completely closed from 13 to 15 October due to the placement there of large-scale equipment for filming.
The city’s Department of Culture emphasises that these are the first historical film shoots in Lviv on such a scale. The Head of the Programmes and Projects Division of the Department of Culture, Oleksii Taraban, noted that the film is intended to offer a truthful perspective on historical events while also showcasing Lviv’s architectural heritage on Ukrainian and international television broadcasts and streaming platforms. According to him, the crew coordinated the set designs so as not to interfere with the historic urban fabric, and after dismantling, all sites will be returned to their previous condition.
Due to the operation of a large amount of equipment on Angels Square, the “Columns of Memory”, dedicated to honouring the defenders — men and women — who died in the Russian-Ukrainian war, have been temporarily dismantled. This artistic and memorial installation was removed for safety reasons and will be returned to its usual place in the urban space after filming is completed.