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 said nine people had been killed in the southern port city of Odesa, five in the central city of Dnipro, and four—including a child— in the capital, Kyiv.
In Russia, two people—including a child—were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the southern Krasnodar region, according to Moscow.
This comes after a brief ceasefire occurred over Orthodox Easter last weekend—though both sides accused each other of hundreds of violations.
Russia has been waging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.
At approximately 02:30 local time on Thursday, residents of Kyiv were abruptly awakened by warning sirens, quickly followed by explosions.
Eyewitnesses posted images online depicting bright orange fires and massive black smoke clouds billowing in central areas of the city. One disturbing video captured a drone colliding directly with an apartment block.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that among the deceased was a 12-year-old boy. Another 45 individuals were injured, with four emergency workers included in this figure.
Rescuers successfully retrieved a mother and her child from the wreckage of a collapsed 16-story residential building in Kyiv's central Podil district.
In Dnipro, regional head Oleksandr Ganzha confirmed four fatalities and numerous injuries due to Russian aggression before Mayor Borys Filatov announced another victim’s discovery.
Kharkiv also suffered casualties from a drone strike, injuring two elderly residents. Additionally, Mykolaiv and Kherson faced power outages due to the attacks.
Ukraine's air force reported that in the previous 24 hours, 659 drones and 44 cruise and ballistic missiles were launched by Russia, out of which 636 drones and 31 missiles were intercepted. Nonetheless, there were direct hits at 26 locations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes, asserting they reinforce the necessity of maintaining strong US and European sanctions against Russia. He emphasized, 'Russia is betting on war, and we must protect lives with all our might while striving for peace.'
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labeled the assault a 'war crime' and urged allies to ratchet up pressure on Moscow while increasing support for Ukraine amid an urgent need for defense resources.
As the war continues to rage into its fifth year, there are ongoing talks of peace, albeit complicated by geopolitical tensions and shifting focuses from global actors.
While Ukraine seeks to stabilize aid and military support, Russia's recent actions only heighten the urgency and complexity of the conflict.
