Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces launch 280-drone assault as Zelensky hits out at ‘Easter escalation’

Russia made no frontline gains in Ukraine during March, marking the first time in two and a half years, with Ukrainian forces recapturing 9 square kilometres. The slowdown in Russian advances is attributed to Ukrainian counteroffensives and communication issues, including Russia’s ban on Starlink terminals and attempts to restrict Telegram. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Donald Trump’s threat to withdraw from NATO, citing a lack of support for his war in Iran, appears to be ‘Putin’s dream plan’. Trump indicated he was ‘seriously considering’ Washington’s withdrawal from the military alliance, claiming members ‘were not there for us’ during his conflict in Iran. Ukraine’s military has refuted Russia’s assertion of having taken complete control of the eastern Luhansk region, reporting no significant changes on the battlefield.

Ukrainian President ⁠Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in ⁠Istanbul ​for ⁠talks with ⁠Turkey’s President ​Tayyip ⁠Erdogan.

A spokesperson also said Zelensky would meet Patriarch Bartholomew, the most ‌senior ​cleric ‌in ⁠the Orthodox Church.

Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Pope Leo on Friday as Russia attacked Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles.

The Ukrainian president said the two spoke on the phone about the ongoing negotiations with the US and thanked him for helping returning abducted children and for the humanitarian aid provided by the Vatican.

“Today I spoke with Pope Leo XIV. Right during this conversation, the Russians attacked Ukraine again—hundreds of “Shaheds” and dozens of missiles against our cities and communities,” he said.

“In fact, the attack has been ongoing in waves since the night, and at least five regions have already come under fire.

“Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia’s response to our proposal for a ceasefire at Easter. In fact, the Russians have only increased the intensity of the strikes and, instead of silence in the skies, are staging an Easter escalation.

“I am especially grateful that the Pope remembers Ukraine, Ukrainians, and prays for peace for our people.”

Russia has issued a stark travel warning to its citizens, advising them to avoid countries with extradition treaties with the United States, citing an increase in “Washington’s punitive justice” since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In a travel advisory, the Foreign Ministry cautioned that Russians risk lengthy prison sentences if handed over to the US.

Kenya has opened an investigation into the illegal recruitment of its nationals to fight the war in Ukraine.

Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi told a Senate committee meeting that about 250 Kenyans have participated in the conflict in Ukraine.

He said 16 Kenyans are missing in Russia after joining its army and 47 have returned home from the front lines, the BBC reported. While 38 are in different Russian hospitals under restricted access.

Five people were killed and 19 others ⁠wounded by a Russian drone strike on ⁠a ​market in Ukrainian city Nikopol on ​Saturday ⁠morning.

“This is yet ‌another war ‌crime committed by the Russian Federation,” Ukraine’s prosecutor ‌general’s office said on Telegram.

Students across Russia are reportedly being offered significant financial incentives to join drone units fighting in Ukraine, serving as both operators and engineers.

This recruitment drive is further evidenced by documents indicating that companies in Russia’s central Ryazan region have been given quotas to enlist workers for the army.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 286 drones on Friday night after Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of an “Easter escalation”.

Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed or jammed 260 drones in the country’s north, south, east and centre, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

The Ukrainian president had proposed a ‌halt in strikes for Easter, telling Russia it would reciprocate if it stopped attacks on the energy sector.

In a post on social media, Zelensky said: “Not a single hour of peace for our people, and this is Russia’s response to our proposal for an Easter ceasefire. Essentially, the Russians have only intensified their strikes, turning what should have been silence in the skies into an Easter escalation.”

A ​Ukrainian drone and missile attack on southern Russia killed at least one person, injured four ⁠others, Russian officials said on Saturday.

Yuri Slyusar, ⁠governor of ​the Rostov ⁠region, said the attack sparked a blaze aboard a foreign-flagged commercial vessel.

He also said a fire ‌broke out in the warehouse premises of a logistics company.