In the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, Kyiv has indicated readiness to uphold any authentic ceasefire with Russia. This statement illustrates Ukraine’s cautious response after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire, set to commence on Saturday. This development coincided with the largest exchange of prisoners between the two countries since Russia launched its large-scale invasion over three years ago. The proposed ceasefire, explained by Putin as a humanitarian gesture, is scheduled to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday to midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday. However, details on the enforcement of the ceasefire, including its applicability to airstrikes and ongoing ground conflicts, remain unclear.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his willingness to adhere to a comprehensive ceasefire, provided Russia’s commitment is genuine and absolute, promising that Ukraine would only engage defensively. He suggested extending the ceasefire beyond Easter to evaluate Moscow’s sincerity. Zelenskyy asserted that a mere 30-hour ceasefire is inadequate for building genuine trust, but sufficient to capture headlines. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russian artillery and attacks persist in various segments along the extensive 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted that while Ukraine had previously accepted a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in March, Russia refused the offer. Sybiha expressed concern over Putin’s recent announcement, remarking on a history of unfulfilled statements by the Russian president. The ceasefire announcement follows a statement from U.S. President Donald Trump, who mentioned that negotiations to resolve the protracted three-year conflict between Ukraine and Russia appear to be gaining momentum.
As discussions continue, the exchange of prisoners took place, marking a significant event with Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirming the return of 246 Russian personnel from Ukraine. Concurrently, 31 injured Ukrainian POWs were exchanged for 15 wounded Russian soldiers requiring urgent medical assistance. Zelenskyy confirmed that 277 Ukrainian “warriors” have returned from captivity, expressing gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for facilitating the exchange. Notably, many of those recently freed were youngsters born after 2000.
Outside a hospital in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, where the freed POWs arrived, anxious relatives awaited their return. Amongst them was Nataliia Lohvynchuk, who hadn’t seen her son Ihor since his capture during the Mariupol battle in spring 2022. Ihor, who lost a significant amount of weight during captivity, expressed disbelief at being home. His mother made a heartfelt plea for global assistance in securing the release of other POWs who remain detained.
While this marks the fourth exchange this year and the 63rd since the thorough invasion, over 4,552 Ukrainians have been repatriated since the conflict began. Meanwhile, Russia has claimed further territorial gains, announcing that it had retaken most of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. Russia’s Defense Ministry indicated that Ukrainian troops were pushed from Oleshnya, a key point of their incursion. Reports from the Ukrainian side assert continued activity in Kursk and beyond, aiming to stymie Russian offensives.
The situation remains dynamic as Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired numerous explosive drones and decoy targets overnight. Out of these, a significant portion was intercepted or disrupted electronically. Russian attacks resulted in damaged farms in Odesa and fires in Sumy, though no casualties were reported. Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that its air defenses neutralized two Ukrainian drones overnight. The situation reflects the ongoing complexities and volatility of the conflict in the region.