Russian forces attacked Ukraine with more than 280 drones on Friday night after Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of an “Easter escalation”.
Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed or jammed 260 drones in the country's north, south, east and centre, with hits recorded in 10 locations, Ukrainian news site Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Officials said two people died after residential and civilian infrastructure in central Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions was attacked on Friday. The governor of the eastern Donetsk region also said a Russian bomb strike killed three people in Kramatorsk.
The Ukrainian president had proposed a halt in strikes for Easter, telling Russia it would reciprocate if it stopped attacks on the energy sector.
In a post on social media, Zelensky said: “Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia’s response to our proposal for an Easter ceasefire. Essentially, the Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation.”
Read MoreRussia warns citizens not to travel to states that have extradition treaties with US
Russia offers huge payments to students to join its drone forces in Ukraine
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Key Points
- Zelensky accuses Russia of 'Easter escalation'
- Russian forces attacked Ukraine with more than 280 drones
- Russia made no frontline gains in Ukraine during March
- Watch: Russia launch overnight drone attack on Ukraine
- Ukraine rescues eight children from occupied territories
- Russia warns citizens not to travel to states that have extradition treaties with US
Russian drone strike kills five people
10:12 , Rebecca WhittakerFive people were killed and 19 others wounded by a Russian drone strike on a market in Ukrainian city Nikopol on Saturday morning.
"This is yet another war crime committed by the Russian Federation," Ukraine's prosecutor general's office said on Telegram.
Russia offers huge payments to students to join its drone forces in Ukraine
10:00 , Rebecca WhittakerStudents across Russia are reportedly being offered significant financial incentives to join drone units fighting in Ukraine, serving as both operators and engineers.
This recruitment drive is further evidenced by documents indicating that companies in Russia's central Ryazan region have been given quotas to enlist workers for the army.
Russia lures students to join its drone forces in Ukraine
Pictured: Rescue workers put out a fire following a Russian strike
09:44 , Rebecca Whittaker Russian forces attacked Ukraine with more than 280 drones
09:32 , Rebecca WhittakerRussian forces attacked Ukraine with 286 drones on Friday night after Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of an “Easter escalation”.
Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed or jammed 260 drones in the country's north, south, east and centre, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
The Ukrainian president had proposed a halt in strikes for Easter, telling Russia it would reciprocate if it stopped attacks on the energy sector.
In a post on social media, Zelensky said: “Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia’s response to our proposal for an Easter ceasefire. Essentially, the Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation.”
One killed in Ukrainian drone and missile attack
09:30 , Rebecca WhittakerA Ukrainian drone and missile attack on southern Russia killed at least one person, injured four others, Russian officials said on Saturday.
Yuri Slyusar, governor of the Rostov region, said the attack sparked a blaze aboard a foreign-flagged commercial vessel.
He also said a fire broke out in the warehouse premises of a logistics company.
Watch: Seven injured in Russian drone strike on Sumy as Zelensky warns of ‘Easter escalation’
09:15 , Rebecca WhittakerSixteen Kenyans missing in Russia after joining its army, minister says
09:00 , Stuti MishraSixteen Kenyans are missing in Russia after joining its army, Kenya's foreign affairs minister Musalia Mudavadi told a Senate committee, adding that the number had risen from 10 to 16 within 24 hours. It remains unclear whether they are dead or alive.
Thirty-eight others are in Russian hospitals under restricted access, 47 have returned home and two are being held by Ukraine as prisoners of war. Mudavadi estimated 165 Kenyans are actively involved in military operations, bringing the total who have participated in the conflict to more than 250.
The minister said recruits had been lured by promises of salaries of up to $2,700 (£2,040) a month, signing bonuses of up to $23,000 (£17,400) and the possibility of Russian citizenship. "Contrary to prevailing reports, the majority of Kenyans enlisted with full knowledge and willingly," he said.
Kenya and Russia agreed to halt the recruitment following talks between Mudavadi and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow last month. Ukrainian intelligence has estimated more than 1,700 people from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia.
Ukrainian drone and missile attack kills one in southern Russia
08:15 , Stuti MishraA Ukrainian drone and missile attack on southern Russia killed at least one person and injured four others on Saturday, Rostov region governor Yuri Slyusar said. Commercial infrastructure was damaged in the city of Taganrog, where a fire broke out at a logistics company warehouse.
A foreign-flagged vessel was also struck and caught fire in the Sea of Azov. The city of Togliatti was separately attacked by Ukrainian drones, though it was not immediately clear what was hit. Ukraine has previously targeted the TogliattiAzot chemical fertiliser plant there.
Russia records near-zero territorial gains in Ukraine for first time since 2023
07:14 , Stuti MishraRussia's army seized just 23 sq km of territory in Ukraine in March — its smallest advance since September 2023 and almost nothing compared to 319 sq km in January — according to analysis of Institute for the Study of War data by AFP.
The ISW attributed the slowdown to Ukrainian counteroffensives, Russia's ban on Starlink terminals in Ukraine, and Kremlin restrictions on Telegram, which is widely used by Russian troops at the front. Russia lost ground in some areas, particularly on the southern section of the frontline between the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Meanwhile, Russian strikes killed 14 people in Ukraine on Friday in a daytime barrage using more than 500 drones and dozens of missiles. Ukrainian drone attacks have also left Russia's Baltic oil export hubs at Ust-Luga and Primorsk unable to handle shipments, forcing refineries to seek alternative export routes.
Ukraine rescues eight children from occupied territories
04:00 , Harriette BoucherUkraine has brought back eight children and teenagers from occupied territories, a Ukrainian humanitarian NGO has announced.
Mykola Kuleba, the founder of Save Ukraine, said they had all been living in conditions of pressure and fear, and their lives were under constant threat.
One 14 year old, Zoryana, was among those rescued. Mr Kuleba said she had been separated from her father by Russians, who was stripped of his documents and deported.
The girl was forced to study in a Russian school, where she was told about the greatness of Russia and taught to use weapons, he said.
Mr Kuleba wrote: “They are all in our Hope and Recovery centers and are receiving psychological support, documentation assistance, housing, and care — everything to help them regain a sense of security and start building a future.
“But thousands of children still remain under occupation. They are forced to be silent, conformed, and prepared for war. But we are not stopping.”
Zelensky urges lawmakers to act as Ukraine funding hangs in balance
03:00 , Harriette BoucherVolodymyr Zelensky called on lawmakers to pass key legislation next week to avert a funding crisis, help Ukraine fight the war against Russia, and enact key reforms required for European Union accession.
Due to lagging reforms and slow legislative progress in late 2025 and early 2026, Ukraine missed deadlines to unlock billions from its key lenders, economists said.
With the need for external financing standing at $52 billion this year - equivalent to around a quarter of annual economic output - the budget situation is desperate.
Zelensky said: “I have a list of key draft laws that are critical for securing funding.” They range from strengthening the court system to reforming energy sector procedures.
“I believe that members of parliament from all parties must understand the importance of these bills for Ukraine's budget,” said Zelensky.
David Arakhamia, head of the ruling Servant of the People faction, said lawmakers planned to meet on Monday to discuss the legislation with the key ministers. Voting is planned for 7 and 8 April.
Ukraine depends on Western financial support as it fights a bigger and better-equipped enemy. Since the 2022 invasion, Kyiv has received about $174 billion in economic aid.
But this year, key funding has been stalled after Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban, who maintains close ties with Moscow, blocked a 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine. By contrast, Russia will benefit from the surge in global oil prices due to the war in Iran.
Russian gymnast turns back during Ukrainian national anthem after Ukraine’s victory
02:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia warns citizens not to travel to states that have extradition treaties with US
01:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia has issued a stark warning to its citizens, advising them against travel to countries with extradition treaties with the United States.
In a travel advisory on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry stated that "the intensity of Washington's punitive justice" has increased since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It cautioned that individuals risk lengthy prison sentences if extradited to the US.
"With numerous extraterritorial sanctions targeting strategic segments of the domestic economy, many Russians, without even realising it, risk finding themselves in the crosshairs of American law enforcement and intelligence agencies," the ministry said.
It said, without providing evidence or examples, that "U.S. intelligence agencies often engage in fraudulent schemes to lure Russian citizens abroad with lucrative commercial or tourist offers".
Russia warns citizens not to travel to states that have extradition treaties with US
Recap: Russia made no frontline gains in Ukraine during March
Saturday 4 April 2026 00:00 , Harriette Boucher- Russia made no frontline gains in Ukraine during March, marking the first time in two and a half years, with Ukrainian forces recapturing 9 square kilometres.
- The slowdown in Russian advances is attributed to Ukrainian counteroffensives and communication issues, including Russia's ban on Starlink terminals and attempts to restrict Telegram.
- Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Donald Trump's threat to withdraw from NATO, citing a lack of support for his war in Iran, appears to be 'Putin's dream plan'.
- Trump indicated he was 'seriously considering' Washington's withdrawal from the military alliance, claiming members 'were not there for us' during his conflict in Iran.
- Ukraine's military has refuted Russia's assertion of having taken complete control of the eastern Luhansk region, reporting no significant changes on the battlefield.
Zelensky accuses Russia of 'Easter escalation' as massive daytime attack kills five
Friday 3 April 2026 23:48 , Harriette BoucherA large-scale daytime Russian strike killed at least two people in Ukraine on Friday, officials said, in what President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced as an "Easter escalation," as Moscow shifts tactics to avoid Ukrainian air defences.
Since the beginning of the war more than four years ago, Russia has mainly carried out major drone and missile strikes at night. In recent weeks, it has repeatedly sent hundreds of drones and missiles during the daytime, setting a record for the number of weapons used in one such strike on March 24.
On Friday, drones struck residential and civilian infrastructure in central Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions, killing one person in each, their governors said on the Telegram app.
"Essentially, the Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation," Zelensky said on X.
On Friday evening, the governor of the eastern Donetsk region, Vadym Filashkin, said a Russian bomb strike killed three people in Kramatorsk, a frequent target in four years of conflict.
In pictures: Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire in a damaged residential building after a drone attack in Kharkiv on Thursday
Friday 3 April 2026 22:00 , Harriette Boucher Ukraine rescues eight children from occupied territories
Friday 3 April 2026 21:00 , Harriette BoucherUkraine has brought back eight children and teenagers from occupied territories, a Ukrainian humanitarian NGO has announced.
Mykola Kuleba, the founder of Save Ukraine, said they had all been living in conditions of pressure and fear, and their lives were under constant threat.
One 14 year old, Zoryana, was among those rescued. Mr Kuleba said she had been separated from her father by Russians, who was stripped of his documents and deported.
The girl was forced to study in a Russian school, where she was told about the greatness of Russia and taught to use weapons, he said.
Mr Kuleba wrote: “They are all in our Hope and Recovery centers and are receiving psychological support, documentation assistance, housing, and care — everything to help them regain a sense of security and start building a future.
“But thousands of children still remain under occupation. They are forced to be silent, conformed, and prepared for war. But we are not stopping.”
Zelensky speaks with Pope as Russia stages 'Easter escalation'
Friday 3 April 2026 20:00 , Harriette BoucherVolodymyr Zelensky spoke with Pope Leo on Friday as Russia attacked Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles.
The Ukrainian president said the two spoke on the phone about the ongoing negotiations with the US and thanked him for helping returning abducted children and for the humanitarian aid provided by the Vatican.
“Today I spoke with Pope Leo XIV. Right during this conversation, the Russians attacked Ukraine again—hundreds of "Shaheds" and dozens of missiles against our cities and communities,” he said.
“In fact, the attack has been ongoing in waves since the night, and at least five regions have already come under fire.
“Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia's response to our proposal for a ceasefire at Easter. In fact, the Russians have only increased the intensity of the strikes and, instead of silence in the skies, are staging an Easter escalation.
“I am especially grateful that the Pope remembers Ukraine, Ukrainians, and prays for peace for our people.”
Russia's FSB says it foiled a Ukrainian attack near Moscow business centre
Friday 3 April 2026 19:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled an attack planned by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) against a senior law enforcement official near a business centre in Moscow, state-run RIA news agency reported.
The FSB did not give details on the intended target or when the attack was due to take place, but said in a statement on Friday: “The SBU planned to remotely detonate the explosive device during the target's visit to the business centre, having identified him through organized video surveillance.”
Russia strikes targets in Kyiv region as Ukraine holds door open for Easter truce
Friday 3 April 2026 17:00 , Rebecca Whittaker Russia strikes targets in Kyiv region as Ukraine holds door open for Easter truce
Oil refinery hit in Russia, according to Ukraine military
Friday 3 April 2026 16:00 , Rebecca WhittakerUkraine's military said on Friday it struck Russia's Bashneft-Novoil oil refinery over 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
The attack sparked a fire, the general staff said on the Telegram app.
Russia suffers biggest monthly losses since the start of war, Zelensky claims
Friday 3 April 2026 15:46 , Harriette BoucherNearly 34,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or seriously wounded in March, the highest level since the start of the war, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.
Another 1,363 Russians were “eliminated” in artillery and other strikes over the month, bringing Russian losses to more than 35,000 in March.
“Importantly, the results in the destruction of Russia’s air defence systems have also significantly increased, with 274 such systems hit in March alone,” Ukraine’s leader wrote on social media.
“There have also been tangible results in the destruction of Russian depots and military logistics. The Ministry of Defence, together with the Armed Forces, will present a detailed report to the public for March – data that may be made public.”
Watch: Russia launch overnight drone attack on Ukraine, reportedly damaging hospital
Friday 3 April 2026 15:30 , Rebecca WhittakerRussia launched a 'massive' missile and drone strike
Friday 3 April 2026 15:00 , Rebecca WhittakerRussia launched a "massive" missile and drone strike on Friday near the Ukrainian capital, killing one person and injuring eight, regional authorities reported.
"The Kyiv region is once again under a massive Russian missile and drone attack," said Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the regional military administration, in a Telegram post on Friday morning.
According to Kalashnyk, one person died and at least eight more suffered injuries as a result of strikes on three of Kyiv's satellite towns — Bucha, Fastiv and Obukhiv.
Insurers to appeal billion-dollar ruling on jets stranded in Russia after Ukraine invasion
Friday 3 April 2026 14:30 , Rebecca Whittaker Insurers to appeal billion-dollar ruling on jets stranded in Russia
Poland scrambles military jets due to Russian strikes on Ukraine
Friday 3 April 2026 14:00 , Namita SinghPoland has scrambled fighter jets due to Russian air strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said this morning.
"Duty fighter jets have been scrambled, and ground-based air defence systems as well as radar reconnaissance have reached a state of maximum readiness," the army said on X.
Watch: Ukraine and Bulgaria working on gas corridor, says Zelensky
Friday 3 April 2026 13:30 , Rebecca WhittakerZelensky says frontline situation best for Ukraine in the last 10 months
Friday 3 April 2026 13:00 , Namita SinghPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said the frontline situation for Ukraine was the best in 10 months, adding that Kyiv's troops had foiled a Russian offensive last month.
"The offensive they were planning for March was thwarted by the actions of our armed forces. That is why the Russians will now simply step up their assault operations," Zelensky said, in remarks released by his office this morning.
The Ukrainian leader said that he invited US negotiators to visit Kyiv during an online meeting earlier this week and had heard "positive signals" in response to his proposal.
"Overall, the front line is holding ... The situation is complex, but the best it has been in the last 10 months," he said, citing data from the Ukrainian and British intelligence.
Recap: Russia made no frontline gains in Ukraine during March
Friday 3 April 2026 12:30 , Rebecca Whittaker- Russia made no frontline gains in Ukraine during March, marking the first time in two and a half years, with Ukrainian forces recapturing 9 square kilometres.
- The slowdown in Russian advances is attributed to Ukrainian counteroffensives and communication issues, including Russia's ban on Starlink terminals and attempts to restrict Telegram.
- Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Donald Trump's threat to withdraw from NATO, citing a lack of support for his war in Iran, appears to be 'Putin's dream plan'.
- Trump indicated he was 'seriously considering' Washington's withdrawal from the military alliance, claiming members 'were not there for us' during his conflict in Iran.
- Ukraine's military has refuted Russia's assertion of having taken complete control of the eastern Luhansk region, reporting no significant changes on the battlefield.
Poland says its airspace was not violated during Russian strikes on Ukraine
Friday 3 April 2026 12:00 , Namita SinghMilitary aviation operations in Polish airspace linked to Russian strikes on Ukraine have ended and no violations of Polish airspace were recorded, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said today.
"Activated ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have returned to standard operational activities," the army wrote on X. "We inform that no violation of the airspace of the Republic of Poland was observed."
Sweden seizes sanctioned oil tanker suspected of being source of spill
Friday 3 April 2026 11:30 , Namita SinghThe Swedish Coast Guard said this morning it had seized an oil tanker in the Baltic Sea that is believed to be part of the Russian shadow fleet and suspected to be the source of a 12km oil spill off the island of Gotland.
The Swedish Coast Guard has stepped up efforts to stop vessels connected with Russia in recent months. The tanker, Flora 1, was seized off Sweden's southern coast, it said.
Flora 1 had embarked from Russian port Primorsk, with an unclear destination, according to MarineTraffic data.
The oil spill is not expected to reach shore, the Coast Guard said.It said it had started an investigation regarding a suspected environmental crime. It said it understood the vessel was on the EU sanctions list, adding that its flag status was unclear.
"The Russian shadow fleet, consisting of older, poorly insured tankers that evade sanctions, poses a significant security and environmental threat," Swedish minister for civil defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin said on X, naming the Flora 1 in his comments.
"The government is taking the incident seriously, even though this time it is not a major oil spill."
European nations have increased efforts to disrupt the so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to fund its four-year war against Ukraine. Russia has condemned such moves as hostile.
Frontline situation best for Ukraine in the last 10 months, says Zelensky
Friday 3 April 2026 11:24 , Rebecca WhittakerPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said the frontline situation for Ukraine was the best in 10 months, adding that Kyiv's troops had foiled a Russian offensive last month.
"The offensive they were planning for March was thwarted by the actions of our armed forces. That is why the Russians will now simply step up their assault operations," he said.
The Ukrainian leader said that he invited US negotiators to visit Kyiv during an online meeting earlier this week and had heard "positive signals" in response to his proposal.
"Overall, the front line is holding ... The situation is complex, but the best it has been in the last 10 months," he said, citing data from the Ukrainian and British intelligence.
Kremlin says Ukraine must withdraw from Donbas
Friday 3 April 2026 11:15 , Namita SinghKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said today that Ukraine must withdraw its troops from areas of Donbas that it still controlled and that this would allow a settlement.
Ukraine says it struck Russian oil refinery in Ufa
Friday 3 April 2026 11:13 , Namita SinghUkraine's military said today it struck Russia's Bashneft-Novoil oil refinery over 1,400km from the Ukrainian border.
The attack sparked a fire, the general staff said on the Telegram app.
North Korean leader Kim visits Memorial Museum of Combat Feats, KCNA says
Friday 3 April 2026 11:00 , Namita SinghNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un gave field guidance at the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations, state media KCNA said, a place to commemorate the death of the fallen soldiers sent to support the Russian army in the war in Ukraine.
The construction of the museum is almost complete and Kim said the opening ceremony will be held in mid-April, marking the first anniversary of the deployment of the North Korean soldiers.
Zelensky says frontline situation best for Ukraine in the last 10 months
Friday 3 April 2026 10:30 , Namita SinghPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said the frontline situation for Ukraine was the best in 10 months, adding that Kyiv's troops had foiled a Russian offensive last month.
"The offensive they were planning for March was thwarted by the actions of our armed forces. That is why the Russians will now simply step up their assault operations," Zelensky said, in remarks released by his office this morning.
The Ukrainian leader said that he invited US negotiators to visit Kyiv during an online meeting earlier this week and had heard "positive signals" in response to his proposal.
"Overall, the front line is holding ... The situation is complex, but the best it has been in the last 10 months," he said, citing data from the Ukrainian and British intelligence.
Russia offers huge payments to students to join its drone forces in Ukraine
Friday 3 April 2026 10:00 , Namita SinghStudents across Russia are reportedly being offered significant financial incentives to join drone units fighting in Ukraine, serving as both operators and engineers.
This recruitment drive is further evidenced by documents indicating that companies in Russia's central Ryazan region have been given quotas to enlist workers for the army.
This intensified effort to replenish military ranks comes as Russian forces continue to make battlefield gains in Ukraine, now in the fifth year of the conflict, and as US-brokered peace talks remain on hold due to the Iran war.
The move suggests Moscow is diversifying its recruitment strategies, though the Kremlin has stated that a general mobilisation is not on the agenda.
Poland scrambles military jets due to Russian strikes on Ukraine
Friday 3 April 2026 09:36 , Namita SinghPoland has scrambled fighter jets due to Russian air strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said this morning.
"Duty fighter jets have been scrambled, and ground-based air defence systems as well as radar reconnaissance have reached a state of maximum readiness," the army said on X.
Six Ukrainian children to be reunited with families as US confirms return effort
Friday 3 April 2026 09:00 , Namita SinghSix Ukrainian children are set to be returned from Russia to their families, the White House said on 2 April, crediting efforts by first lady Melania Trump.
A further child is expected to be reunited with their family later this month, according to a statement from her office.
Ukraine has said that nearly 20,000 children have been taken to Russia and Belarus, where some have undergone military training and been compelled to fight against Ukrainian forces.
The first lady had previously written to Russian president Vladimir Putin in August 2025 addressing the situation of children separated from their families during the war. The White House said this marked the fourth occasion on which the first lady had helped secure such returns.
“Reunifying children with their loved ones in this region of the world remains one of the most important global issues today. I am encouraged that both sides remain committed to ongoing cooperation, raising the safety and well-being of children above this abhorrent war,” the statement said.