Russia and Ukraine exchanged large-scale drone attacks just hours before a temporary Easter ceasefire was due to come into effect, underscoring continued hostilities despite attempts to pause fighting during the religious holiday.

According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched at least 160 drones overnight targeting multiple regions, including the southern port city of Odesa. The strikes killed several people and caused damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, with local authorities reporting casualties in both eastern and southern parts of the country.

Ukraine’s air force said a majority of the incoming drones were intercepted, but some managed to hit their targets, leading to fatalities and destruction. In Odesa, at least two people were killed and others injured after drones struck residential areas, including homes and a kindergarten.

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Meanwhile, Russia claimed it had also repelled a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks, saying dozens of drones were shot down over its territory and in occupied Crimea. The exchange highlights the continued use of unmanned aerial warfare by both sides as the conflict stretches into another year.

The escalation came just before a proposed 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and accepted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While Kyiv has indicated it would honour the truce, Ukrainian officials have expressed skepticism, citing previous ceasefires that were marred by violations.

Despite the temporary pause proposal, recent developments suggest limited trust between the two sides. Both countries have repeatedly accused each other of breaching earlier ceasefire attempts, and ongoing strikes ahead of the truce have raised doubts about whether the pause will hold.

The latest exchange of drone attacks highlights the fragile nature of ceasefire efforts in the conflict, with continued violence casting a shadow over diplomatic attempts to reduce hostilities, even during significant religious observances like Easter.

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