A devastating Russian strike during daylight hours claimed the lives of at least two individuals in Ukraine on Friday, an attack that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as an “Easter escalation.”

In a significant shift in strategy, Moscow has been altering its approach to circumvent Ukrainian air defenses. Traditionally, Russia has executed major drone and missile assaults under the cover of night since the onset of the war over four years ago. However, recent weeks have seen a change in this pattern, with Russia launching hundreds of drones and missiles during the day, marking a notable increase in weapon usage, especially highlighted by a record strike on March 24.

The recent attacks on Friday targeted the central regions of Zhytomyr and Kyiv. Drones hit residential areas and civilian infrastructure, resulting in the tragic loss of life, with one fatality reported in each region, according to their respective governors on Telegram.

“In essence, the Russian forces have intensified their assaults, turning the expected peace of the skies into an Easter escalation,” Zelenskyy expressed on the social media platform X.

Adding to the day’s grim toll, Vadym Filashkin, the governor of the eastern Donetsk region, reported that a Russian bomb strike in Kramatorsk resulted in three more deaths. Kramatorsk has been a frequent target throughout the four-year conflict.

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.

Kramatorsk is one of the heavily defended cities in the “fortress belt,” seen by Russia as a key target in its slow advance westward through Donetsk region.

Earlier this week, Zelenskyy proposed a halt in strikes for Easter holidays, and said Ukraine would reciprocate if Russia stopped attacks on the energy sector. Moscow rejected the idea.

“The purpose of these daytime strikes is clear. Russia is deliberately trying to increase the number of civilian victims, disrupt life, spread fear, and damage Ukraine’s infrastructure,” Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on X.

Strike hits veterinary clinic

Ukraine has destroyed 515 out of 542 drones and 26 out of 37 missiles launched by Russia since Thursday evening, Ukraine’s air force said on the social media app, Telegram.

“We can see that the enemy is using new routes, new drones which they are constantly modernising, and new tactics,” air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on state television on Friday.

In the Kyiv region, a veterinary clinic was damaged in the strike alongside private houses, residential and administrative buildings. Around 20 animals were killed, governor Mykola Kalashnyk said.

In Zhytomyr region, 18 buildings – including houses – were destroyed and over 100 were damaged, authorities said.

Poland has scrambled fighter jets even though there was no record of Polish airspace having been violated, its military said.

In the northeastern region of Kharkiv, two people were killed, and over two dozen others were injured in missile, bomb and drone attacks over the past 24 hours, according to the region’s governor, Oleh Syniehubov.

“The current series of strikes has been perhaps the most intense since the start of the war and certainly the heaviest since the beginning of the year,” Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekhov said.

Ukraine hits back

On Saturday, Ukraine retaliated and launched a drone and missile attack on southern Russia killing at least one person, injuring four others, and sparking a blaze on a foreign-flagged vessel.

Yuri Slyusar, governor of the Rostov region, said one person was killed and four seriously injured in an air attack by Ukraine.

Commercial infrastructure was damaged during the missile attack on the city of Taganrog. A fire broke out in the warehouse premises of a logistics company, Slyusar added.

A commercial vessel was also damaged and a fire broke out as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack in the Sea of Azov.

Samara governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said the Russian city of Togliatti was attacked by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine has previously targeted the TogliattiAzot chemical fertiliser producer.

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