Ukraine's defense minister says the country's armed forces shot down more than 33,000 Russian drones of various types in March, a record monthly figure since Moscow launched its all-out invasion more than four years ago. Meanwhile, Ukraine's domestically developed long-range attack drones struck a Russian oil refinery and terminal on the Black Sea for the third time in less than two weeks. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes could "cause serious environmental consequences." Ukraine has developed battle-tested drone technology that has proved essential in holding back Russia's bigger army and has drawn military interest from around the world.

Authorities in Ukraine say a Russian drone attack on Ukraine's southern city of Odesa has wounded 14 people including two children. Officials said Monday that the drones hit residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure. A Russian official said that a Ukrainian drone strike killed two people in the Russia-occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has fired approximately 1,900 attack drones and other weapons at Ukraine over the past week. Ukraine intercepts more than 90% of the drones but needs more American-made Patriot air defense missiles. Ukraine for its part has been targeting Russian oil infrastructure with long-range drones and missiles.

Russia has launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine, targeting civilian areas with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Officials say the assault killed at least 16 people and injured over 100. The attack, which stretched from daytime into the night, is the largest in almost two weeks. The Russian Defense Ministry claims it was in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been seeking more air defense systems from allies. Ukraine's air force reports that air defenses shot down or disabled most of the incoming targets.

Lebanon and Israel have held direct diplomatic talks for the first time in decades. Tuesday's more than two-hour meeting at the State Department came after more than a month of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks a "historic opportunity," while Israel's ambassador to the U.S. hailed what he called a convergence of opinion about removing Hezbollah's influence from Lebanon. Hezbollah opposed the direct talks and wasn't represented. There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese side. The Lebanese government hopes the talks will lead to an end to the war, which has killed over 2,000 people there.

Israeli strikes have hit central Beirut without warning, causing panic after the announcement of the ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Wednesday's strikes in the Lebanese capital came after Israel said the ceasefire does not apply to its fight with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. President Donald Trump later said Lebanon was not included in the deal. Israel's military said it hit over 100 targets in Beirut and other areas. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 89 people were killed and 700 were wounded. Associated Press journalists saw charred bodies in cars at one of the capital's busiest intersections. Hezbollah has not agreed to the ceasefire. Displaced families face uncertainty.

Ukrainian officials say a Russian drone attack on Odesa has killed two women and a toddler. The attack heavily damaged an apartment block, with rescuers pulling four people from the rubble. Eleven people were hospitalized, including a pregnant woman and two children. Russia has targeted civilian areas in Ukraine since its invasion over four years ago, killing more than 15,000 people, says the United Nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for partner countries to provide more air defenses. Meanwhile, Ukrainian long-range drones have targeted Russian oil facilities. Russia's Defense Ministry claims air defenses downed 50 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Russian strikes on Ukraine have killed at least eight people across the country. The attacks on Friday include a "massive" missile and drone strike near the capital, regional authorities reported. Ukrainian officials claimed the Kremlin is changing its tactics to increase civilian suffering. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled Kyiv's openness to a potential Easter truce. The holiday is celebrated on April 12 in both Ukraine and Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier this week that Moscow is not interested in a temporary ceasefire.

Russia's Defense Ministry claims its forces have taken control of the entire Luhansk region in Ukraine. However, a Ukrainian military official denies this, stating that small areas are still held by Ukrainian forces. Russia has previously made false claims of advances. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing for talks with U.S. envoys trying to mediate an end to the conflict. A Russian drone strike killed four people in Ukraine's Cherkasy region on Wednesday. Ukraine's air force says it downed 298 drones in overnight attacks.