On April 3, a series of violent attacks in Ukraine highlighted the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Russian ballistic missile strike killed at least four people and injured 17 others. The attack also caused a significant fire in the city, according to local officials.
Overnight, drone strikes from Russia targeted the Zaporizhia and Kharkiv regions, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. In Kharkiv alone, two people were killed, and at least 32 others, including two children, were hurt when drones hit several apartment buildings. Another drone attack near Kharkiv injured a person in the village of Ruski Tyshky.
Kyiv’s air force reported that Russia launched 39 drones towards Ukraine, with 28 being shot down. Seven drones were also neutralized due to electronic warfare tactics. Meanwhile, Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted a drone approaching Moscow.
In the midst of these attacks, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused Ukraine of conducting over 30 "provocative" strikes on Russian energy facilities, despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States. Ukraine’s military denied these claims, insisting they were following the ceasefire terms while accusing Russia of multiple violations.
Additionally, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces had taken control of two settlements in eastern Ukraine. Reports indicated that Russian troops were intensifying their efforts in the Kursk region to displace Ukrainian forces, particularly those holed up in a monastery.
In other developments, U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli noted that while Ukraine had made progress in addressing manpower shortages, a halt in U.S. military support would severely impact Ukraine’s efforts. He also mentioned that Russia has lost over 4,000 tanks since the beginning of the conflict.
On the economic front, Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko commented on the 10 percent tariffs imposed by the U.S., describing them as challenging but manageable. She highlighted that Ukraine exported $874 million worth of goods to the U.S. last year while importing $3.4 billion.
In a related context, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov expressed that Russia was not surprised by potential new U.S. tariffs on Russian oil, indicating a level of patience in response to U.S. actions.
As for peace negotiations, President Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of maintaining Ukraine’s military strength and rejected any recognition of Russian-controlled territories as part of Russia. He suggested that a diplomatic approach should be taken to eventually return these areas to Ukraine.
Lastly, in the realm of politics and diplomacy, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev accused unnamed forces of trying to create discord between Russia and the U.S. Meanwhile, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb urged either France or the UK to lead efforts in engaging with Russia to support Ukraine. Notably, the U.S. has withdrawn from a team of European and U.S. investigators working on potential Russian war crimes in Ukraine, citing a shift in priorities within the U.S. Department of Justice.