Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 8 as Kyiv holds door open for Easter truce

Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine killed at least eight people on Friday, even as Kyiv kept open the possibility of an Easter truce.

AP reported that the attacks hit multiple areas of the country and included what local officials described as a massive strike near Kyiv. The death toll comes after earlier Russian aerial attacks on April 2 killed two people and injured at least three others, according to AP.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine remains willing to consider an Easter ceasefire, but only if Russia is genuinely ready to observe it. In an April 1 address posted on the presidential website, Zelenskyy said a ceasefire during Easter could be a signal that diplomacy can succeed.

The latest attacks underline the gap between that diplomatic opening and the reality on the ground. While Kyiv has kept the truce idea alive, the fighting has continued, with Russian strikes causing fresh civilian casualties.

The situation remains fluid, and official casualty figures could rise as rescue and verification efforts continue.