Three killed in Ukraine a day after drone attack kills child in Moscow

What Happened

On 11 April 2025, Russia launched 90 drones at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force. The strikes killed three people, including an eight-year-old girl in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region, according to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha. Attacks on Odesa killed one person, and strikes on Kramatorsk killed another, local authorities said. These strikes followed Ukraine's largest-ever drone attack on Moscow on 10 April, which Russian officials said killed an eight-year-old girl and set fire to a major oil refinery. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would 'continue' striking Ukraine, calling its own strikes 'impressive'. He acknowledged the Ukrainian attack but claimed Moscow's air defences 'were performing well'. Ukraine's general staff stated it had also struck railway bridges in Russian-occupied Crimea near Rozdolne and Vladyslavivka to disrupt Russian military logistics. Both sides have escalated attacks in recent weeks amid frozen US-led peace talks.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reciprocal drone strikes and escalating rhetoric underscore the intensifying tit-for-tat dynamic, with both sides increasingly targeting each other's civilian areas and infrastructure. The attacks, which killed children on both sides, highlight the human cost and the absence of de-escalation even as US-led peace talks remain frozen. Russia's explicit vow to continue strikes signals no near-term diplomatic resolution.

Watch For

Potential further Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory, especially energy infrastructure, and intensified Russian missile and drone barrages in response. Monitor statements from US-led mediators on the stalled talks, and any international calls for restraint following civilian casualties. Assess the impact of Crimea railway bridge strikes on Russian logistics.