The very first drone strikes took place at 4 a.m. local time on Friday, according to Ukrainian authorities. The escalation involved Russian bombers in the air.
Within hours, hundreds of attack drones entered Ukrainian airspace, according to the country's air force. Later in the day, the number rose to more than 570 projectiles, the vast majority of which were so-called kamikaze drones. Most were reportedly shot down, but debris that fell to the ground also caused significant damage.
“Want to kill civilians”
In addition, a significant number of Russian missiles were fired during the day. Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately trying to kill more civilians by escalating attacks in daylight, which has been more unusual in the past.
Residential areas with villas and apartment buildings were subjected to the attacks.
According to Ukraine's emergency services and various authorities, at least 14 people were killed in various locations in the country.
In northern and northwestern Ukraine, at least five people were killed, and another eight civilians were killed near the front lines around Kharkiv, Donetsk and Kherson on Good Friday.
One fatality was reported from Kyiv, where a large number of pets were also killed when a veterinary clinic was attacked.
In the central parts of the capital, crowds of people, as so often during the war, sought shelter in basements and subway stations. Many others continued their lives in the city's outdoor cafes, without reacting to the air-raid sirens, AFP reporters say.
Americans are invited
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also says that the United States has been invited to send a delegation to Ukraine for continued peace negotiations. According to Zelenskyy, a visit also seems likely.
"The American group can come to us and then, afterwards, travel to Moscow. If trilateral talks don't work, we can do it that way," he says.
