Ukraine has been hit by a fresh wave of large-scale Russian drone and missile attacks, killing at least six civilians and injuring dozens more, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned as an “Easter escalation” instead of the temporary truce he had proposed.
The strikes, which involved hundreds of drones and missiles, targeted multiple regions across the country, underscoring a sharp intensification of aerial assaults even as ground fighting shows signs of stabilising.
In the Zhytomyr region, west of the capital Kyiv, entire rows of homes were reduced to rubble, with emergency crews scrambling to pull survivors from the debris. In the Kyiv region, a drone was captured on video veering into a residential building and igniting a fire. Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, a major northeastern city near the front line, officials described one of the most intense daytime bombardments yet, leaving at least one woman dead and several others critically wounded.
Zelensky said the attacks were a direct response to Ukraine’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire over Orthodox Easter, which is observed next weekend in both Ukraine and Russia.
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“The Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation,” he wrote on social media.
Despite the devastation, Ukraine has continued to strike back. In recent days, Ukrainian forces have launched long-range drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, targeting energy and industrial infrastructure linked to Moscow’s war effort. A key port in Ust-Luga has reportedly been hit multiple times, disrupting exports, while an industrial plant in Togliatti—associated with military production—was also struck. Russian authorities confirmed a drone attack in the area, reporting one injured worker and damage to a residential building.
On the battlefield, however, there are signs that Russia’s momentum may be slowing. Zelensky, echoing a British intelligence assessment, described the current frontline situation in eastern Ukraine as the “most favourable” for Kyiv in the past ten months. He said Ukrainian forces are holding positions, with only minor territorial gains and losses on both sides, and that the risk of a major Russian breakthrough has diminished.
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Still, the relative stability on the ground contrasts sharply with the escalating air war.
Efforts to end the conflict diplomatically have also stalled. Talks mediated by the United States have been postponed twice and are now effectively “on hold,” according to Moscow. Zelensky has urged US envoys to continue shuttle diplomacy between Kyiv and Moscow to revive negotiations, but there is growing scepticism over Russia’s willingness to reach a deal.
The broader geopolitical landscape may also be shifting against Ukraine. With the United States increasingly focused on tensions in the Middle East, Kyiv fears a reduction in critical military support, particularly air defence systems such as Patriot missiles. Zelensky warned that prolonged conflict elsewhere could directly impact Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
“The longer the war in the Middle East continues, the greater the risk that we will receive less weaponry,” he said, describing the situation as one of the most difficult challenges facing his country.
At the same time, rising global energy prices—partly driven by instability in the Middle East—could benefit Russia by boosting revenues from oil and gas exports, providing additional funds for its war effort. For Ukraine, however, higher fuel costs pose a logistical burden, as its military relies heavily on diesel for tanks and vehicles.
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While Kyiv continues to hold the line, the combination of intensified air strikes, stalled peace talks and shifting global dynamics suggests the conflict may be entering a more uncertain and dangerous phase—with little sign of a near-term resolution.
