Russian drones batter Ukraine’s Odesa as peace talks come to a crux

The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 54 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight (Alamy/PA)

Russian drones battered the Ukrainian port city of Odesa in a nighttime attack, local authorities said on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after a purported Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by Moscow ended.

The attacks also came just over a day before Ukrainian, British, French and US officials are due to meet in London to discuss the war, with anticipation building over whether diplomatic efforts can stop more than three years of fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour.