Mayor of Mechelen comes under Russian fire during visit to Lviv
A delegation from the Belgian city of Mechelen, which brought a convoy of humanitarian aid to Lviv, including fire trucks and police vehicles, found itself at the epicenter of a Russian strike on the city center on March 24.
Mechelen Mayor Bart Somers, who is leading the delegation, said this in a comment to Ukrinform.
A residential building hit by a Russian drone was located just 150 meters from the hotel where the delegation was staying. The attack occurred after the official presentation of the aid convoy near City Hall on Rynok Square, attended by Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. Members of the Belgian delegation, including firefighters and police officers, witnessed the strike firsthand.
At the time of the attack, Somers was meeting with a group of international relations students and had to take shelter with them.
"While the strikes were ongoing above us, we were talking with young people about their future," Somers said. "What struck me most was their determination. These students see themselves as part of Europe – not as a distant dream, but as a reality they are fighting for every day. It's a powerful realization when you hear this while missiles and drones are striking overhead. This is about people – a generation choosing freedom, democracy, and the rule of law."
After the air raid alert ended, the delegation, together with the mayor of Lviv and local authorities, visited one of the impacted sites. Belgian firefighters from the delegation also joined their Lviv counterparts at the scene.
"You can see what war means today: people are losing their homes, buildings are severely damaged, and cultural heritage sites are being hit," Somers told Ukrinform. "This is not an abstract conflict. It is the harsh reality of a war in which civilians are deliberately targeted. What is happening here is nothing less than the barbarity of Putin's regime. It only strengthens our resolve to continue helping. That is why we are here."
The authorities of Mechelen organized the latest humanitarian convoy to its sister city Lviv, which included 13 service vehicles – police vehicles and fire trucks – as well as body armor for law enforcement, generators, and defibrillators.
The convoy was accompanied by a delegation led by Somers, including local police chief Yves Bogaerts and fire service commander Bert Michielsen.
On March 24, Russia launched more than 550 strike UAVs at Ukraine during daytime, and nearly 1,000 drones of various types, including Shahed and Gerbera, over the course of 24 hours.
As of that evening, 32 people were reported injured in the Lviv region. A UNESCO-listed heritage building was also damaged.
First photo: Lviv City Council