Deadliest Russian Aerial Assault in Months Claims 18 Lives Across Ukraine
Widespread Devastation Across Key Cities
Russia unleashed a barrage of over 700 drones and missiles across Ukraine, leading to at least 18 deaths in what local officials have described as the deadliest attack in months. The southern port city of Odesa reported nine fatalities, while the central city of Dnipro confirmed five, and Kyiv four, including a child.
In Kyiv, air raid sirens pierced the early morning quiet, followed swiftly by explosions. Images shared online depicted significant fires and plumes of black smoke, with one video showing a drone impacting an apartment block. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed a 12-year-old boy was among the deceased, with 45 others injured. Rescuers successfully pulled a mother and child from the rubble of a collapsed 16-storey residential building in the central Podil district.
Separately, two individuals, including a child, were killed in Russia's southern Krasnodar region due to a Ukrainian drone attack.
Ukrainian Air Defence Response and International Appeals
Ukraine's air force stated that 659 drones and 44 cruise and ballistic missiles were launched in the preceding 24 hours. While 636 drones and 31 missiles were intercepted, direct hits were recorded in 26 locations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, reiterating that international sanctions against Russia must not be weakened. He highlighted Ukraine's critical shortage of Patriot air defence missiles, essential for intercepting ballistic missiles. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labelled the assault a "war crime," urging allies to intensify pressure on Moscow and bolster support for Kyiv.
This renewed aggression follows a brief Orthodox Easter ceasefire, during which both sides accused the other of numerous violations. The ongoing conflict, now in its fifth year, continues to escalate despite earlier attempts at peace negotiations.
