Just hours after the conclusion of a 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow, Ukraine reported a barrage of drone and missile attacks across multiple regions, marking a swift return to hostilities in the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine’s military reported overnight Russian drone assaults in Kyiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia. In Mykolaiv, explosions were heard, and regional head Vitaliy Kim later confirmed a missile strike, though he said there were no casualties or damages. Air defence systems were active in the Kyiv region, with officials stating they were “working on targets” amid the raid alerts.
The truce, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, had begun at 18:00 Moscow time on Saturday and ended at midnight Sunday. While both Ukraine and Russia pledged adherence to the temporary ceasefire, each side accused the other of violations. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that 1,882 cases of Russian shelling occurred during the truce, 812 involving heavy weapons, particularly around the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk.
“The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirrored: we will respond to silence with silence,” Zelensky said, adding that Russia’s truce was a “PR” stunt aimed at shaping global perception rather than achieving peace.
In contrast, the Russian defence ministry insisted its forces had “strictly observed the ceasefire”, echoing the Kremlin’s narrative. However, Putin had not extended the truce, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed no order was given for prolongation.
On the international stage, calls for a lasting peace continue. A U.S. State Department spokesperson reiterated Washington’s support for a comprehensive ceasefire, urging an end to the war. Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, expressing hope for a peace deal “this week,” though he provided no specifics.
Since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, Russia has seized around 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. The war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, with no end in sight as both nations brace for further confrontations.
