Western Lviv Hit In Deadly Attack As Foreign Min Departs In Reshuffle

According to regional officials, at least three have been killed, 30 injured and buildings destroyed in the historic centre of the western city of Lviv in a Russian missile barrage that also hit the capital, Kyiv. For broad swathes of the war, Lviv, just 70km from the Polish border, has not been subjected to significant aerial attacks. However, it now appears to be another city in Russia's sights as the Kremlin steps up its campaign of deliberately targeting civilians as well as key infrastructure. The strike on Lviv comes a day after thedeadliest single attack of 2024, when more than 50 were killed when missiles hit a military institute in the central Ukrainian town of Poltava.

• The escalation in Russian attacks on targets in Ukraine comes as Kyiv's forces continue their incursion in the Kursk oblast of the Russian Federation.
• In an effort to provide some impetus to the situation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is engaging in a cabinet reshuffle. The most notable change is that of the foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who has handed his resignationto the speaker of the Rada.
• Rikard Jozwiak at RFE/RL posts on X: "Hear quite some worry in Brussels about the latest Ukrainian government resignations. While EU is quite used to plenty of personnel changes in Kyiv, many of the ministers were well-regarded, notably FM Dmytro Kuleba."
• Speculation emerged late on 3 Sep of Kuleba's dismissal. The same report claims that PM Denys Shmyhal will remain in place.