Russia launched more than 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine in multiple waves overnight, killing at least 18 people in what local officials said was the deadliest attack in months.
Officials reported nine victims in the southern port city of Odesa, five in Dnipro, and four—among them a child—in the capital, Kyiv.
Simultaneously, Moscow announced that two individuals, including a child, were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the Krasnodar region.
This retaliation comes after a fragile ceasefire observed over Orthodox Easter, though both sides accused each other of violations.
The conflict intensified after Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In Kyiv, warning sirens blared at 02:30 local time, followed by the first explosions. Eyewitness videos captured the aftermath, showing immense fires and smoke in central areas, as a drone struck an apartment block.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the casualties, highlighting a 12-year-old boy among the deceased and noted the injuries of another 45 individuals, including four emergency workers.
In Dnipro, the regional head reported more fatalities as further bodies were unearthed from the rubble.
In Kharkiv, a drone strike wounded two senior citizens while areas like Mykolaiv and Kherson faced power outages.
Despite Ukraine's air force intercepting numerous threats, direct hits occurred in 26 locations, leading President Volodymyr Zelensky to stress the necessity of maintaining and enhancing sanctions against Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labeled the attack a war crime, urging allies to increase pressure on Moscow while seeking resources to bolster Kyiv's defense.
As the war progresses into its fifth year, attempts for peace have continually stalled, with both parties retaining starkly divergent views on the necessary compromise for peace terms.
