KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a 32-hour ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter weekend, Ukrainian officials reported ongoing drone attacks by Russian forces. Serhii Kolesnychenko, a communications officer for the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade, stated that the ceasefire was not being honored by Russia. While artillery fire had ceased in the area near the junction of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, drone strikes continued to target Ukrainian positions.
Kolesnychenko indicated that Ukrainian forces were adopting a "silence to silence and fire to fire" strategy in response to the situation. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine had voiced commitment to the ceasefire, viewing it as a chance to advance peace initiatives. However, he also cautioned that any violations would provoke a rapid military response. In a post on social media, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the Easter period as one of safety and silence, but acknowledged the realities of the conflict.
Prior to the ceasefire, Russia launched an aggressive attack on multiple Ukrainian cities. Overnight drone strikes on the city of Odesa resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals, with another two wounded. Drones targeted residential neighborhoods, damaging buildings and a kindergarten. In Kherson, just before the ceasefire commenced, a driver of a public trolley bus was killed due to a drone strike. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that during the attacks, 160 drones were directed at Ukraine, with 133 successfully intercepted or shot down.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 99 Ukrainian drones in its own territories and occupied Crimea overnight. The tense pre-ceasefire atmosphere underscored the ongoing volatility in the region, as both sides have historically accused each other of ceasefire breaches during previous attempts at halting hostilities.
In a move that contrasted with the hostile actions on the ground, Russia's Defense Ministry reported that a prisoner exchange occurred on Saturday, returning 175 soldiers to Russia. Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange, highlighting that many of those freed had been held since 2022. The returned soldiers were greeted with warmth and hope by their families, many of whom were searching for loved ones still in captivity.
As the holiday was marked by renewed violence, the families who welcomed returned soldiers were a poignant reminder of the human cost of the conflict. Svitlana Pohosyan, waiting for her son, expressed a deep desire for peace, hoping for a ceasefire that would coincide with the holy celebration. The emotional responses illustrated the anxiety and hope harboring among families caught in the turmoil of war.
In a related incident, seven residents from Russia's Kursk region, who had been captured by Ukrainian forces, were reported to have returned home. The returnees were welcomed at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, illustrating the ongoing humanitarian aspects amidst the military confrontations. Following a notable surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces into Kursk in August 2024, this exchange symbolizes the enduring complications and human experiences tied to the war.
This series of events continues to highlight the precarious nature of ceasefires in the ongoing conflict, as actions of aggression and humanitarian gestures coexist in a deeply fractured environment.
