Latest News from the War in Ukraine: Russia Kills at Least 4, Over 30 Injured in Massive Daytime Attack

On April 3, 2026, Russia executed a large-scale assault on Ukraine, deploying hundreds of drones, which led to the tragic loss of at least four lives and injuries to over 30 people, as reported by local officials.

The drones were detected over the Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Sumy, Cherkasy, Poltava, Zhytomyr, and Kyiv regions. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that from 6:00 PM on April 2 to 2:00 PM on April 3, the country faced attacks from more than 542 Russian drones, including approximately 330 Shahed-type drones, 25 X-101 cruise missiles, 10 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and two Iskander-K cruise missiles.

According to preliminary data, air defense forces intercepted 26 missiles and 515 drones. Eleven missiles and 27 drones bypassed defenses and struck 20 targets. Additionally, drone debris was found at 22 different sites.

In the Kyiv region, the Kyiv Regional Military Administration reported that one person was killed during the morning attack, and eight others, including a child, were injured. The strike caused damage to residential buildings, high-rise apartments, vehicles, administrative buildings, and other civilian infrastructure across three districts of the region. The Russian attack also hit a veterinary clinic, resulting in the death of approximately 20 animals.

Throughout the day, Russian drones targeted the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kharkiv, injuring at least seven people, three of whom were in critical condition, reported Governor Oleg Synegubov. A man and a woman died in the hospital from injuries sustained during the Russian attacks on Kharkiv on April 3.

Between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM local time, Russia conducted a series of missile and drone strikes on the Zhytomyr region, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old woman and injuring at least ten others, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on April 3 that Russia experienced its highest monthly losses since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, with over 35,000 casualties or injuries in Ukraine in March. "Russian losses in March reached the highest level since the start of the war," Zelenskyy noted in a social media post, adding: "Our drone strikes resulted in the deaths or serious injuries of 33,988 Russian servicemen, while artillery and other strikes destroyed an additional 1,363 Russian occupiers."

"This means that in one month, Russia lost over 35,000 people — and these are clearly confirmed losses." This statement came against the backdrop of intensified Russian offensive actions on the southeastern front with the arrival of spring, as warmer weather creates more favorable conditions for active combat operations.

Zelenskyy also stated that Ukraine possesses video evidence of each casualty among the over 35,000 Russian soldiers reported as killed or wounded. "We have clear and verified data on every front and across all categories of losses. We are ready to provide the relevant data to our partners," Zelenskyy said following a meeting with Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

The President also emphasized the units that have been particularly "effective" in the drone war, including the Special Operations Center of the Security Service of Ukraine "A," the "Madyar Birds" unit, the special border guard unit "Phoenix," the Lazarus Group, and the 95th Air Assault Brigade.

Addressing journalists on April 3, Zelenskyy also mentioned that, according to British intelligence, the battlefield situation is currently the most favorable for Ukraine in the last 10 months.

On April 1-2, Ukrainian drones struck several targets within Russia and occupied Ukraine, including an oil refinery in the Republic of Bashkortostan, confirmed the General Staff of Ukraine on April 3. The Bashneft-Nova oil refinery in the Russian city of Ufa was hit, which, according to the General Staff, led to a fire on the company's premises.

The Bashneft-Nova oil refinery is one of the largest producers of high-quality lubricants in Russia, noted the General Staff. Its crude oil processing capacity is approximately seven million tons per year. "This plant is a key element of Russia's fuel and energy complex and is used to meet the needs of the Russian army," the General Staff added. The extent of the damage caused is currently being assessed.

The attack also affected a residential building in Ufa, which caught fire, reported the independent Telegram publication Astra on April 2. Regional Governor Radiy Khabirov claimed that all Ukrainian drones were shot down en route to the refinery and that only debris from the downed drones caused damage.

According to local authorities, there were no casualties from the strike on the building, and the fire was extinguished. Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, is located approximately 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

In the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine struck the Kulikovsky training ground in Novopetrivka and an ammunition depot in Uspenivka, reported the General Staff. Ukraine also targeted clusters of Russian troops in Kotlyne and Shandryholove in the Donetsk region, as well as in Berezove in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The General Staff did not specify how many soldiers were killed or wounded.

In occupied Crimea, a Su-30 fighter jet reportedly crashed during what was claimed to be a training flight, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on April 3. The incident occurred around 11:00 AM Moscow time. The aircraft was not carrying weapons, the ministry stated.

The crew ejected and was evacuated by search and rescue teams. The lives of the pilots are not in danger, the ministry reported. The Kyiv independent editorial office was unable to independently verify this information.