Russian attacks on civilians increase, 16 killed and 94 injured

Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities killed at least 16 civilians and injured 94 over the past day, even as Volodymyr Zelensky called for an Easter ceasefire. Kyiv had proposed a temporary halt in fighting during the religious holidays, but instead, Russian forces intensified strikes across multiple regions.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where a drone strike hit a market on April 4, killing at least five people and injuring 27, according to the Prosecutor General. Around the same time, Russian forces struck a residential area in Kharkiv, injuring five people. Overnight attacks in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast also wounded civilians, including a five-month-old baby, a six-year-old boy, and a 41-year-old woman, as fires spread through residential neighborhoods. In Sumy, a drone hit an apartment building during a nighttime assault, leaving 13 people injured, including a 15-year-old girl.

Other regions also came under heavy fire. In Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, Russian aerial strikes the previous day killed six people and injured 10, damaging homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Across Kharkiv Oblast, attacks using glide bombs and drones on April 3–4 killed four people and injured 11. In Kherson Oblast, strikes on April 3 left one person dead and 25 injured.

The escalation comes as Christians prepare to celebrate Easter — observed by Catholics and Protestants on April 5 and by Orthodox believers on April 12 — underscoring the continued toll on civilians despite calls for a humanitarian pause.

The head of the President's office expects the US delegation in Kyiv after Orthodox Easter

The head of the President's office, Kyrylo Budanov, said that a U.S. delegation could arrive in Kyiv after Orthodox Easter on April 12, according to comments reported by Bloomberg. The expected delegation may include Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, though the full composition has not been confirmed.

Budanov suggested that the visit could lead to further progress on security guarantees for Ukraine. He emphasized that Kyiv has already outlined its expectations and believes implementation may come soon, indicating that discussions with Washington are moving forward, at least on key security issues.

He also revealed that Ukraine has faced requests from international partners to scale back its strikes on Russian oil refineries. These appeals come amid rising global oil and fuel prices linked to the ongoing war involving Iran, highlighting how the broader geopolitical situation is influencing both military strategy and diplomatic considerations.

Ukraine brought back 8 children from Russian-occupied territories

Eight children and teenagers have been brought back from Russian-occupied territories over the past week, the Ukrainian humanitarian organization Save Ukraine announced on April 2. The group’s founder, Mykola Kuleba, said thousands of children remain under occupation, where they are pressured to conform and subjected to pro-Russian indoctrination, but stressed that rescue efforts will continue.

Among those returned is 14-year-old Zoriana, who was separated from her father after Russian forces deported him and stripped him of his documents. She was forced to attend a Russian school where children were taught narratives about Russia’s “greatness” and trained in basic weapons use. Another teenager, 17-year-old Hlib, described similar experiences, with Russian soldiers visiting classrooms and presenting weapons while telling students they had been “liberated.” Seventeen-year-old Sasha also lived under constant fear after armed Federal Security Service agents searched his home, knowing he could be forcibly mobilized once he came of age.

Kuleba said the rescued children are now receiving psychological support, documentation assistance, and shelter at rehabilitation centers. According to him, around 1,200 Ukrainian children have been returned so far, though thousands remain trapped. Data from Ukraine’s “Children of War” database indicates that at least 20,000 children have been taken from occupied areas to Russia or Russian-controlled territories since 2022, while initiatives like Bring Kids Back UA estimate that 1.6 million children are still living under occupation.

Ukrainian officials believe the true number of abducted children may be significantly higher. Human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has suggested it could reach up to 150,000, while presidential commissioner Daria Herasymchuk has estimated between 200,000 and 300,000. Despite international efforts, only 2,003 children have been successfully returned to Ukraine so far.

Meanwhile, the human toll of the war continues to grow, with at least 684 children killed and more than 2,300 injured since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.