Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of choosing escalation over peace after launching a large-scale drone and missile assault across Ukraine during the lead-up to the Easter holiday.
At least six civilians were killed and about 40 others injured as hundreds of drones and missiles targeted multiple regions of the country. Ukrainian officials say the attacks mark another wave of intensified aerial strikes as the war continues with no clear path toward a ceasefire.
Zelensky condemned the attacks, saying Moscow had rejected Ukraine’s proposal for a temporary Easter truce. Orthodox Christians in both Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to celebrate Easter next weekend.
“The Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation,” Zelensky said in a message posted on social media.
Several regions were hit in the attacks, including the Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv, where entire rows of homes were destroyed. Rescue teams were seen searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors after missile strikes devastated residential areas.
In the Kyiv region, dramatic footage captured a drone flying toward a residential apartment block before crashing into the side of the building, sparking a fire.
Kharkiv, one of Ukraine’s largest cities in the northeast, also faced heavy bombardment. Local officials described the strikes as among the most significant attacks on the city so far, leaving one woman dead and several others critically injured.
The surge in attacks comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war appear to have stalled. Negotiations led by the United States have slowed in recent weeks after US President Donald Trump and his team shifted diplomatic attention toward escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Despite the renewed air raids, Zelensky said the battlefield situation in eastern Ukraine has improved slightly. Citing a British intelligence assessment, he noted that conditions on the front line are currently the most favorable for Ukrainian forces in about 10 months, as Russian advances appear to have slowed.
At the same time, Ukraine has intensified its own long-range strikes against Russian infrastructure. Ukrainian forces have targeted several energy facilities on Russia’s northern coast, including the port of Ust-Luga, which has been hit multiple times by drones, forcing a suspension of exports.
Ukrainian officials also reported strikes on an industrial facility in Togliatti in southern Russia that produces rubber components used in military equipment. Russian authorities confirmed a drone attack on an industrial enterprise in the city, saying one worker was injured by shrapnel and a nearby residential building was damaged.
Additional attacks were reported near the port city of Taganrog on the Sea of Azov, where Ukrainian sources said a power substation was struck and debris hit a vessel in the area.
Zelensky said Ukraine’s offer of a temporary Easter ceasefire remains on the table if Moscow agrees to the proposal. He said the message had been relayed during discussions with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
However, prospects for renewed negotiations remain uncertain. Planned in-person peace talks mediated by the United States have already been postponed twice, with Russian officials saying the process is currently “on hold.”
Zelensky has invited members of Trump’s diplomatic team to visit Kyiv and continue shuttle diplomacy with Moscow in an effort to revive the peace process.
Meanwhile, Ukraine faces growing concerns over the broader global impact of ongoing conflicts. Rising fuel prices linked to tensions involving Iran could affect Ukraine’s ability to maintain its military operations, which depend heavily on diesel supplies for tanks and vehicles.
There are also fears that US defensive missile supplies may become limited as American Patriot air defense systems are increasingly deployed in other global conflicts.
As the war enters another tense phase, Ukraine continues to rely on international support while bracing for further Russian aerial attacks across the country.