Ukrainian forces have reported 469 violations of the Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire, accusing Russian troops of continuing drone strikes despite the truce. Serhii Kolesnychenko, a communications officer for the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade, told the Associated Press that while artillery fire had paused in his sector, Russian forces continued to use drones to strike Ukrainian positions. “The ceasefire is not being observed by the Russian side,” he said, adding that Ukrainian forces were responding with “silence to silence and fire to fire”.
Russia also accused Ukraine of violating the truce. Alexander Khinshtein, governor of Russia’s Kursk border region, said a Ukrainian drone struck a petrol station in the town of Lgov, injuring three people, including a child. In the Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported two people injured in Ukrainian drone attacks and shelling in Shebekino and Grayvoron.
President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to abide by the ceasefire but warned of a swift military response to any violations. “Easter should be a time of silence and safety,” Zelenskyy wrote online, adding, “Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind.”
Hours before the ceasefire was due to begin, Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in Odesa and one in Kherson, local authorities reported. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down. Russia’s defence ministry claimed 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down across Russia and occupied Crimea.
A prisoner swap on Saturday brought home 175 Ukrainian soldiers and seven civilians, Zelenskyy confirmed. Hundreds of relatives gathered in northern Ukraine to welcome the freed prisoners, many clutching photos of missing loved ones. Svitlana Pohosyan was among those waiting, hoping for news of her family member.
