A Ukrainian drone strike killed three civilians in Russia's Vladimir region, including a couple and their 12-year-old son, according to Governor Alexander Avdeev. The attack targeted a residential building in the Alexandrovsky district, with their five-year-old daughter hospitalized with burns, highlighting the escalating toll on non-combatants in the ongoing war.
Simultaneously, Russian attacks resulted in seven civilian deaths in Ukraine. In Nikopol city, Dnipropetrovsk region, a drone hit a city bus, killing at least four and injuring 16, as reported by Governor Oleksandr Hanzha. In Kherson, less than 5 kilometers from the frontline, a relentless half-hour Russian assault on a residential area killed three elderly people and wounded seven more, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin stated on Telegram, underscoring the brutal impact on communities near conflict zones.
These incidents follow significant Ukrainian strikes on Russia's Black Sea export facilities, part of a broader pattern where Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure over the past month. Additionally, in Russia's Voronezh region, a downed drone crashed onto a warehouse roof, causing burns to one man and damaging four houses, Interfax cited Governor Alexander Gusev, illustrating the widespread collateral damage.
Ukraine's air force claimed to have shot down 77 of 111 drones launched by Russia overnight, while Russia's Ministry of Defence reported intercepting 45 Ukrainian drones, including 19 over the Leningrad region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated a ceasefire proposal contingent on Moscow halting attacks on energy infrastructure, but Russia's apparent rejection, as Zelenskyy noted, suggests a deepening impasse, with him stating, "for them, all times are the same. Nothing is sacred."
Moscow's response to Zelenskyy's proposal last week favored an overall peace deal instead, a stance that critics argue may prolong the conflict and increase humanitarian costs. The failure to agree on even a temporary Easter ceasefire, celebrated on April 12, points to entrenched positions and diminishing hopes for a near-term resolution, raising concerns about further escalation and civilian suffering.
Source: www.aljazeera.com