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.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country's top priority is securing help to buy and build more air defense systems. Russia continues its attacks on civilians and infrastructure, and warns that European sites that make drones and other equipment for Ukraine were "potential targets." Zelenskyy is visiting European capitals to secure military and financial support. He aims to boost air defense capabilities, including the Patriot system. Britain plans to send 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues long-range drone attacks on Russia. Defense leaders from over 50 nations are meeting online to coordinate aid for Kyiv.

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.

The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbor Ukraine as Europe's biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive. The past week showed that neither side is easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war's biggest bombardments. The following day Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea. Ukraine's fate is still Europe's top foreign policy issue, fueled by fears that Moscow has wider ambitions.

Russia is reporting that it has shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones in a massive overnight attack across its regions and Crimea. Russia's Defense Ministry says its air defenses downed 389 drones over 13 regions and the Crimean Peninsula. The attack highlights Ukraine's growing long-range drone capability. It follows a Russian barrage on Tuesday that Ukraine says hits civilian areas with almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles. Ukrainian officials say at least six people died and about 50 were hurt. Regional officials in Russia report fires and power disruptions.

Russia has unleashed a massive drone and missile barrage on civilian areas of Ukraine and is stepping up ground attacks along the front. Ukrainian officials said Tuesday the aerial strikes have killed six people and injured at least 46. Ukraine's air force says Russia fired nearly 400 long-range drones overnight, plus cruise and ballistic missiles. Ukraine's military commander says Russia is trying to break through front-line defenses in several key areas. The Institute for the Study of War says the spring-summer offensive appears underway. Ukraine leans on advanced drones to offset troop shortages. It also seeks more Patriot missiles to blunt the air campaign.

With U.S.-brokered Ukraine peace talks on hold due to the war in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to try to expand his military gains via new offensives against his southern neighbor that will put even more pressure on Kyiv. Windfall revenues from surging global oil prices are filling Moscow's war coffers and U.S. air defense assets are being drained quickly by Iranian attacks across the Gulf, leaving little available for Ukraine in the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine's European allies have promised to maintain their steadfast support, but bickering over a major 90 billion euro ($106 billion) European Union loan to cover Kyiv's military and economic needs for two years has reflected the mounting challenges.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Russia and Iran "brothers in hatred." It came as he visited London to seek support from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in his country's fight against Russia's invasion. The talks between the two leaders on Tuesday came as the Iran war revives Russia's ailing economy through increased oil revenue, robs U.S.-brokered talks on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine of momentum, and could soon limit Kyiv's access to vital Western air defense systems that are needed in the Middle East. Starmer said "We can't lose focus on what's going on in Ukraine and the need for our support." NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also attended the talks.