Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned Moscow’s decision to escalate violence over Easter, accusing Russia of choosing “Easter escalation” instead of honoring the spirit of a ceasefire.
The latest large-scale drone and missile strikes left six civilians dead and 40 others injured, as hundreds of projectiles rained down across Ukraine.
Daytime attacks, once rare, have become increasingly frequent. This surge comes at a time when international efforts to end the war have stalled, with U.S. diplomacy shifting focus toward the Middle East.
Despite the ongoing air raids, Zelensky noted some cautious optimism. He agreed with a British intelligence assessment that conditions on the eastern frontline are the “most favourable” for Ukraine in nearly a year, as Russian advances appear to have slowed.
Still, the human toll remains heavy. In the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, rescuers searched desperately for survivors beneath the rubble after an entire row of houses was destroyed. In Kyiv itself, residents watched in horror as a drone slammed into a block of flats, igniting a fire
In Kharkiv, in north-eastern Ukraine, a woman lost her life and several others were critically injured during what the mayor described as “one of the biggest” days of strikes on the city so far.
Images from Reuters show the devastation in Korosten, a town in the Zhytomyr region, where rows of houses were reduced to rubble by missile strikes.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the barrage was Russia’s answer to his proposal for a temporary truce over the Easter holidays, which Orthodox Christians in both Ukraine and Russia will mark next weekend. “The Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation,” he wrote on X.
Ukraine has also carried out deep strikes of its own in recent days, hitting energy facilities along Russia’s northern coast. One port, Ust-Luga, has been targeted multiple times by drones, forcing Russia to suspend exports.
Zelensky stressed that the offer of a holiday truce remains open if Moscow agrees, noting that the message had been relayed in talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Plans for further in-person negotiations, mediated by Washington, have already been postponed twice, with Moscow saying they are “on hold.” Zelensky added that Trump’s team would be welcome to visit Kyiv and then travel to Moscow to keep the peace process alive.
Still, doubts linger over Russia’s willingness to strike a deal, especially as global dynamics shift in its favor. Ukraine faces mounting concerns about fuel shortages and rising prices, with frontline troops heavily reliant on diesel for tanks and vehicles. Meanwhile, Russia stands to benefit financially from higher energy export revenues, which can be funneled into weapons production and military salaries.
Another pressing challenge is the potential shortage of U.S. defensive missiles. With many Patriot systems now deployed in the Middle East conflict, Ukraine fears fewer will be available to intercept Russia’s ballistic missiles. “The longer the war in the Middle East continues, the greater the risk that we will receive less weaponry,” Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv. “This is extremely difficult – perhaps one of the most challenging tasks.”
Despite these pressures, Zelensky described the frontline situation as “stable,” with small gains and losses across different areas. For now, Ukraine’s focus appears to be on holding its ground rather than pushing for major advances.
