KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight into Saturday, local authorities reported, ahead of a proposed ceasefire for Orthodox Easter.
A further two people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a kindergarten.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. Saturday until the end of Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps, having earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday.
Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday described Putin’s move as a “humanitarian” gesture, but said Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its longstanding demands — a key sticking point that has prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement.
A possible prisoner exchange over the Easter holiday has also been discussed.
Russia’s human rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said last week that both sides were working on exchanges of prisoners.
Periodic prisoner exchanges have been one of the few positive outcomes of otherwise fruitless monthslong U.S.-brokered negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The talks have delivered no progress on key issues preventing an end to Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, now in its fifth year.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A rescue worker walks in front of residential building which was heavily damaged after a Russian strike in Odesa, Ukraine, Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Shtekel)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Muncy was in Dave Roberts' ear in Toronto this week, telling the Los Angeles Dodgers manager that he was getting close to producing hits.
He delivered in a big way.
The 35-year-old third baseman hit three home runs in a game for the second time in his career, including a walk-off shot in the ninth inning, rallying the Dodgers past the Texas Rangers 8-7 Friday night.
“I still think about the first time I did it,” Muncy said. “To get the win on top of it, it’s great.”
Muncy's power display came on a night when Shohei Ohtani's bobblehead paid homage to the four-time MVP's three-homer outing in Game 4 of last year's NL Championship Series.
“He’s just playing the heck out of third base, he’s taking good at-bats and right now he’s had a good start,” Roberts said.
Muncy's first homer in the second inning was his 211th as a Dodger. He overtook Steve Garvey for sole possession of third place on Los Angeles' career list with his second shot in the fourth. He trails only Ron Cey (228) and Eric Karros (270).
“Garvey is kind of a Dodger icon, the way he carried himself, the way he played the game, just a model of consistency,” Muncy said. “He really embodied what being a Dodger was and so to pass him, it’s something that’s really, really special to me. Hopefully, I can keep climbing.”
Muncy is the first player with three home runs, including a walk-off, since Jack Suwinski on June 19, 2022, and the second Dodger since Don Demeter in 1959.
He finished 4-for-5 with five runs and three RBIs in his 20th career multihomer game. His walk-off homer was his sixth such hit and seventh walk-off RBI with the Dodgers. Now in his ninth season, he's the longest-tenured current player on the roster.
The Dodgers gave Muncy a one-year contract extension in the offseason that keeps him under team control through 2028, which Roberts believes freed his mind and allowed him to focus on playing.
“He knows that we believe in him and we've showed that many times over, so I think there's some peace with that,” Roberts said.
In 2021, Muncy suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament and a dislocated left elbow on the last day of the regular season in a collision at first base. It caused him to miss the entire postseason and required a slow rehab process into the start of 2022.
“I just feel healthy, that’s kind of the most important thing right now,” he said. “I feel like I’m moving really well, I feel like I’m getting good reads on the ball. Most important, my feet are moving on every ground ball and that’s something I’ve always struggled with in the past. I just get stuck a little bit and that puts me in bad position on certain hops.”
Muncy came into spring training 17 pounds lighter after watching his diet in the offseason. His biggest sacrifice was cutting back on bread.
“That's a hard thing in our family,” he said. “We really love bread.”
Instead of focusing on strength training, he emphasized mobility and running to improve his range.
“I’ve always said when I can drive the ball to left-center, that’s when my swing is at my best,” he said. “That’s telling me what I’m doing is in a really good spot.”
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Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy hits a walk off solo home run as Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy gestures after hitting a solo home run during the forth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy, right, scores after hitting a walk off solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy hits a walk off solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
