Putin launches horror attack on Ukrainian city just hours after 'Easter truce' ends

Russia launched a mass drone strike against the Ukrainian port city of Odesa late last night, injuring at least three people. The attack, which took place less than week after Nato secretary general Mark Rutte’s visit there, targeted a residential building in a densely populated neighbourhood, said Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.

"The enemy targeted a residential area in a densely populated district of Odesa," Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov wrote on the Telegram messaging app. He posted pictures of a fire blazing out of control and apartment buildings with windows smashed and facades damaged.

Fires broke out upon impact and several apartments were damaged. Three people were injured and were last night receiving medical treatment, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said.

The attack on Odesa comes as Ukraine awaits a response to its proposed ban on long-range strikes against civilian infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday that the ban was still on the table and Kyiv expects a "clear answer" from Moscow.

Zelensky first proposed the partial ceasefire on April 20, in the final hours of Russia's brief "Easter truce."

The president proposed a ceasefire on "any strikes with long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days with the possibility of extension."

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed yesterday that he was open to discussing the proposal and had "a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives," but stopped short of implementing the ban.

The mass drone attack against civilians in Odesa marks the only "clear answer" from Russia thus far.

Ukraine documented over 3,000 Russian violations of the temporary ceasefire, though Zelensky said that air raid alarms were quiet throughout the country on Easter.

Russian news agency Interfax, retaliated by accusing Kyiv of 4,900 violations of its own.

While Russia insisted it stayed in "previously occupied" regions, it said its defence units shot down 104 Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours.

During his visit with President Zelensky last week, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said: “I know that some have called NATO’s support into question in the last couple of months.

“But let there be no doubt - our support is unwavering."