In the aftermath of a brief Easter ceasefire declared unilaterally by Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports from Ukraine indicated continued violence in the southern Kherson region. According to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of Kherson’s administration, Russian attacks during the 30-hour truce led to the deaths of three individuals and injured three others in the area, parts of which face ongoing occupation. While Putin’s declaration on Saturday suggested a calm period, Ukraine responded with skepticism, insisting it would mirror any genuine peace. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Russia repeatedly violated the ceasefire, citing over 2,900 instances of aggression.
Zelenskyy detailed that Russian forces engaged in 96 assault operations, shelled Ukrainian troops more than 1,800 times, and deployed countless drones despite the proclaimed ceasefire. He emphasized that Ukraine’s tactical response would be reflective of Russian actions, warning, “We will respond to silence with silence, and our blows will be a defense against Russian blows. Actions always speak louder than words.”
Contrastingly, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a claim accusing Ukraine of contravening the ceasefire more than 4,900 times, insisting that Russian forces adhered strictly to the truce guidelines by maintaining their positions. President Putin later confirmed a resumption of hostilities when the ceasefire officially ended at midnight. Addressing Zelenskyy’s proposal for a more extensive 30-day ceasefire or at least a cessation of attacks on civilian targets, Putin accused Kyiv of attempting to shift the initiative and urged a thorough assessment of the ceasefire’s outcomes. Russia has maintained that any complete ceasefire would depend on halting Western military support to Ukraine and curbing Ukraine’s mobilization, demands categorically rejected by Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s openness to peaceful solutions and ongoing dialogues with the United States, expressing hope for fruitful outcomes. Speculation about possible U.S. proposals concerning Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, saw President Donald Trump hinting at a detailed announcement in the coming days following productive discussions regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Zelenskyy firmly rejected the notion of recognizing any Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions. In a dialogue with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer prior to forthcoming international talks, Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine’s dedication to pursuing a sustainable ceasefire leading to enduring peace, highlighting that Easter underscored the need for an end to Russian-initiated hostilities.
Overnight reports from Ukraine described Russian forces launching three missiles at southern Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, along with deploying 96 Shahed drones over other areas. The Air Force claimed success in intercepting 42 of the drones and disrupting 47 mid-flight. In addition, fire incidents sparked by Russian drones were reported in the Dnipropetrovsk region, although no injuries ensued, according to regional head Serhii Lysak. Additionally, damage to unspecified infrastructure in the Cherkasy region was noted by regional head Ihor Taburets.
In the contested Donetsk region, regional head Vadym Filashkin reported four civilian injuries resulting from Russian shelling, which occurred five times over the preceding day. Despite ongoing conflict, diplomatic efforts persist in seeking pathways to lasting peace.