Arabic version: زيلينسكي يتهم روسيا بتصعيد الهجمات خلال فترة عيد الفصح

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of choosing “Easter escalation” over an Easter ceasefire after Russia carried out another deadly large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine. This assault resulted in the deaths of six civilians and left 40 others injured as Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles across the country.

According to BBC News, the attacks occurred during a time when efforts to negotiate peace, led by the United States, have stalled. Zelensky noted that major daytime assaults, once rare, have become more frequent, despite an assessment from British intelligence indicating that the situation on the frontline is currently the “most favourable” for Ukraine in 10 months.

In the Zhytomyr region, rescuers searched for survivors beneath the rubble of their homes after a series of strikes destroyed houses, while a drone attack in the Kyiv region caused significant damage to residential buildings. Kharkiv’s mayor described the bombardment on the city as “one of the biggest” experienced to date, resulting in fatalities and critical injuries.

Zelensky stated that Russia’s intensified attacks were a direct response to his proposal for a temporary truce during the Easter holiday. Despite the ongoing violence, he reiterated that the offer for a holiday ceasefire remains available if Moscow is willing to engage.

In recent days, Ukraine has also conducted strikes targeting Russian energy facilities, with reports of drone attacks on various locations, including an industrial plant in Togliatti. The conflict’s dynamics have raised concerns over potential shortages of fuel and military supplies for Ukraine, particularly due to the ongoing war in the Middle East affecting US military support.

While Zelensky described the frontline situation as “stable”, he emphasized the need for continued vigilance, as the threat of a major Russian offensive has not completely dissipated. He expressed worries over the implications of the Middle Eastern conflict on Ukraine’s defense capabilities, stating that the longer it persists, the greater the risk of reduced weaponry supply for his country.