Russian strikes across Ukraine have tragically claimed the lives of at least 14 people, including a child, according to local authorities. This devastating toll follows a wave of overnight attacks launched by Moscow on its neighbor.
Since the beginning of the four-year conflict, Moscow has consistently launched missiles and hundreds of drones, almost nightly, while Kyiv has responded with strikes within Russia.
Recent Attacks Follow Orthodox Easter Truce
The latest assaults occurred shortly after a 32-hour Orthodox Easter truce, which both countries accused each other of widely violating.
The southern port city of Odesa bore a heavy brunt, with missile and drone attacks killing seven people, as reported by Serhiy Lysak, head of the city’s military administration, on Telegram. In the capital, Kyiv, at least four people, including a 12-year-old child, lost their lives, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Additionally, three people died in the central city of Dnipro, confirmed Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the regional administration.
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko stated that an air raid warning remained in effect early Thursday morning, urging residents to stay in shelters. He also noted that at least 45 people were injured in the strikes.
Casualties Reported on Russian Side
Meanwhile, on the Russian side, two children were reportedly killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea port of Tuapse in the southern Krasnodar Krai region. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev stated on Telegram, “A terrorist drone attack on residential buildings in Tuapse has claimed the lives of two minors aged five and 14.” The attack also caused a large fire.
Widespread Damage in Kyiv
The Russian air raids on Kyiv, which began early Thursday, resulted in extensive damage across the Podilskyi, Obolonskyi, and Desnyanskyi districts. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that blasts set buildings and cars ablaze, shattered windows, and damaged hotel facades. Debris from the attacks caused fires in a residential building in Podilskyi, damaged a hotel, and led to a home collapsing. Mayor Klitschko confirmed that “A child and her mother were rescued from the rubble.” In the Obolonskyi district, an office building was damaged, and cars caught fire, with at least four medics injured. Falling debris also ignited a fire in a two-story residential building in the Desnyanskyi district. Photos shared online depicted uncontrolled fires and smoke billowing into the sky. Russia has not yet commented on these reports.
Stalled Diplomatic Efforts
Recent months have seen several rounds of United States-brokered negotiations fail to bring the warring parties closer to a peace agreement, initiated by Russia’s February 2022 invasion. The diplomatic efforts have faced further challenges since the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, which has drawn international focus. Even prior to these developments, progress towards a peace deal in Ukraine had been slow, primarily due to disagreements over territorial issues.
Ukraine has proposed freezing the conflict along the current front lines. However, Russia has rejected this, insisting on control over the entire Donetsk region, despite parts of it being under Ukrainian control – a demand Kyiv deems unacceptable.
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