Ukraine says Russian drone barrage since overnight kills at least one

ISTANBUL

Ukraine’s foreign minister said Friday that Russia launched nearly 500 drones in attacks overnight that killed at least one person.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of carrying out a deliberate daytime strike aimed at maximizing civilian casualties and damage.

“This is how Moscow responds to Ukraine’s Easter ceasefire proposals --with brutal attacks,” he wrote on X.

Earlier, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said Russia had launched more than 400 long-range drones in the past 24 hours, according to RBC-Ukraine.

Ihnat added that Moscow also deployed Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers.

“A large group of UAVs is also moving south from Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia regions, Cherkasy, and then from Sumy region,” he said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces carried out a large-scale strike using long-range precision-guided weapons and drones targeting Ukrainian military-industrial and energy facilities supporting operations.