Another large daytime Russian drone attack on western andcentral Ukraine killed 4 and left thousands without power

Russia launched a large-scale daytime drone attack across central and western Ukraine on April 1, killing at least four people and injuring nine others, according to local authorities. Ukraine’s Air Force said more than 360 drones were launched during the day, including around 250 Shahed-type UAVs, with over 80 still in the air at one point. Air raid alerts were issued across much of the country, with drones moving toward regions including Lviv Oblast, Ternopil Oblast, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Chernivtsi Oblast, and Zakarpattia Oblast.

In central Ukraine, four people were killed in Cherkasy Oblast after a drone warhead detonated near civilians who had gathered at the crash site. Additional injuries were reported in both Cherkasy and Poltava Oblast, including a child. Authorities said the strikes also damaged civilian infrastructure, including a bus hit by drone debris.

Western regions were also affected, with strikes damaging energy and critical infrastructure. Around 11,000 people were left without electricity in parts of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, while facilities were hit in Zakarpattia. Explosions were reported in multiple cities, and earlier overnight attacks also damaged residential and commercial buildings, highlighting the scale and reach of the assault.

Belarus is preparing for a war

Self-proclaimed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that the country is preparing for war, arguing that relying on peacetime is no longer realistic. Speaking at a meeting on the readiness of the armed forces, he told military officials they must be ready to fight in order to deter potential threats.

Lukashenko said Belarus does not want war but must remain prepared, stressing that the army exists for that purpose. “There can be no peacetime. We are preparing for war,” he said, while adding that Belarusian soldiers understand the consequences of conflict.

He warned that Minsk would respond to any perceived aggression. “If someone decides to look at us through the sights of weapons, we will respond. That is what we are preparing for,” he said.

Russia attacked Nikopol three days in a row

Russian forces carried out multiple attacks on the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast over the past two days, using a combination of FPV kamikaze drones and heavy artillery shelling. On March 30, Russian strikes injured at least eight civilians in the Nikopol area. The following day, on March 31, another FPV drone strike hit the city center, injuring 11 more people, including a child who was reported in critical condition. Residential buildings, shops, and vehicles were damaged, with fires breaking out at the scene.

On April 1, the attacks continued as Russian forces struck Nikopol once again. According to Oleksandr Hanzha, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, ten civilians were injured — five women and five men. Two of the injured were hospitalized, including a 75-year-old woman in serious condition and a 49-year-old woman in moderate condition. These repeated strikes demonstrate the relentless pressure on frontline communities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where civilians remain under constant threat from Russian drones and artillery just across the Dnipro River.

Nikopol is located in proximity to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russia, causing a constant threat to the population of the city.

Zelensky reported on talks with the Trump team

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he held talks on April 1 with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, representatives of Donald Trump, to discuss a possible ceasefire over the Easter holidays. Mark Rutte and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham also joined the conversation.

According to Zelensky, the discussions focused on ceasefire proposals, security guarantees for Ukraine, and the role of European partners. He said the sides agreed on the need to strengthen guarantees and instructed his team to urgently update relevant documents to ensure they are effective and reflect the rapidly changing security environment.

Zelensky added that U.S. representatives are ready to work toward compromises on ending the war, stressing that the outcome depends on coordinated messaging toward Russia and well-prepared agreements. He said further talks will continue in the coming days to show tangible progress.