Mass daytime Russian drone attack on western, central Ukraine kills 4, thousands without power
In a devastating daytime assault, Russia launched a mass drone attack on Ukraine's western and central regions on April 1, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals and injuries to nine others, according to local authorities and media reports.
On April 1, 2026, at approximately 1:43 p.m. local time, a significant drone attack by Russia targeted Ukraine's western and central oblasts, leading to tragic consequences. Reports indicate that over 80 drones were detected in the airspace, prompting air raid alerts across much of the country. The Ukrainian Air Forces confirmed that more than 360 Russian attack drones were deployed throughout the day, with around 250 of these being Shahed-type drones.
"Throughout the day, the vast majority of drones flew in from the southeast, heading west. Unfortunately, as a result of the Russian terrorist attack, 14 strikes were recorded, and there are casualties," stated the Air Forces in their report.
In the central region of Ukraine, specifically in the Zolotoniskyi district of Cherkasy Oblast, four people lost their lives due to the drone attack. Governor Ihor Taburets reported that the incident occurred in an open area during an air raid alert. Law enforcement officials are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
According to the Cherkasy Prosecutor's Office, the fatalities occurred when a drone warhead landed in an open area between settlements in the Zolotonosha district and subsequently detonated. The explosion killed four local residents who had gathered near the crash site. A pre-trial investigation has been initiated to address the commission of a war crime.
In addition to the fatalities, Taburets noted that four other civilians sustained injuries during air attacks in the Cherkasy district. Among the injured were three passengers on a bus that was damaged by debris from a Russian drone.
Meanwhile, in Poltava Oblast, a drone crash onto private property resulted in injuries to four individuals, including a child. Vitalii Diakivnych, head of the Poltava Oblast Military Administration, confirmed the incident, stating that explosions were heard in Poltava around 3 p.m. local time.
In western Ukraine, Svitlana Onyshchyk, the Ivano-Frankivsk Governor, reported that air defense systems were active in the Kolomyisky district at 12:22 p.m. local time, and critical infrastructure facilities were damaged as a result of the attack. Approximately 11,000 customers were temporarily left without power in the Kolomyia district due to the drone strikes.
Suspilne journalists on the ground reported hearing explosions in the cities of Burshtyn and Sniatyn, indicating the widespread impact of the attacks across the region.
In Chernivtsi Oblast, Andrii Dranchuk, the Mayor of Khotyn, also reported active air defense measures in response to the drone threat. Similarly, in Zakarpattia Oblast, critical infrastructure facilities were reportedly hit in the Khust and Uzhhorod districts, with Myroslav Biletskyi, head of the Zakarpattia Oblast Military Administration, confirming that one person was injured and on-site assistance was provided.
Explosions were also reported in the Lviv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts, further illustrating the extensive reach of the drone assault.
Earlier that day, overnight on April 1, Russian forces had already targeted the western cities of Khmelnyskyi and Lutsk, causing damage to residential buildings and commercial sites, including a Nova Post terminal. The ongoing attacks have raised concerns about the safety and security of civilians in these regions as the conflict continues to escalate.