Russia and Ukraine on Saturday accused each other of violating a brief ceasefire intended to mark Orthodox Easter, hours into the 32-hour truce. Ukraine's military reported 469 ceasefire violations by Russian forces, including assault actions, shelling, and drone strikes. In Russia's Kursk region, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said a Ukrainian drone attacked a gas station in Lgov, injuring three people, including a baby.
Despite the tensions, both sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war each on Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 175 servicemen and seven civilians were returned from Russian captivity. Andrii Yusov, a Ukrainian defence intelligence representative, noted that 163 of those freed had been held since 2022. Russia's defence ministry said the United Arab Emirates mediated the exchange, with Russia also receiving 175 servicemen and seven civilians from the Kursk region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended Easter services in Moscow and, in his Easter greeting, described the holiday as the "triumph of love, good and justice." He thanked Orthodox Patriarch Kirill for supporting participants in Russia's military campaign. Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, did not mention the alleged violations but reiterated Ukraine's commitment to the truce, expressing hope it could be extended.
Meanwhile, Hungary's election on Sunday could impact Ukraine, as a defeat for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán might unblock a €90 billion EU loan vital for Kyiv's war effort and remove Russia's closest EU ally.
