Nighttime attack is Russia’s response to peaceful diplomatic efforts, says Zelensky
According to Ukrinform, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on Telegram.
“Today will be a pretty busy diplomatic day – many contacts have already been scheduled, and this nighttime attack is effectively Russia’s response to diplomatic efforts. We proposed a ceasefire for Easter – in response, we’re getting ‘shaheds.’ We also proposed a ceasefire specifically regarding energy infrastructure – the Russians ignore this and once again attempt to strike our substations and transformers,” Zelensky stated.
He noted that Ukraine is working with partners to create more joint opportunities to protect lives, but Russia prolongs the war in Europe and is openly using its intelligence resources to help the Iranian regime fuel war in the Middle East and the Gulf.
Zelensky reported that Russia deployed a total of 339 drones against Ukraine last night, about 200 of which were Shahed-type. He said that firefighters are currently battling a blaze in Lutsk following a nighttime strike by Shahed UAVs. There were hits on purely civilian targets: The Russians destroyed food warehouses, a Nova Post terminal, and a residential building was damaged. All necessary State Emergency Service and municipal utility forces have already been mobilized to address the aftermath of this attack.
The Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Poltava, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions were also targeted. “There are still ‘shaheds’ in our skies,” the president said.
“Russia is the global threat, and its disregard for life and peace is what obstructs any diplomacy. I am grateful to everyone who supports our efforts to protect lives, and to everyone who ensures the enforcement of sanctions against Russia for this war. The higher our interception rate of Russian drones and missiles, and the higher the percentage of restrictions on Russian oil, trade, and production, the sooner security will be ensured and peace established,” Zelensky emphasized.
As reported by Ukrinform, the Air Defense Forces neutralized 298 of the 339 drones used by Russian invaders to attack Ukraine beginning on the evening of March 31.
Photo: Office of the President
