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Despite the Russian president's declaration of a truce on Saturday, set to be in place until midnight on Sunday, the Ukrainian president said in a post on X on Easter morning: “Between 6pm yesterday and midnight today, there were 387 instances of shelling and 19 assaults by Russian forces. Drones were used by Russians 290 times.”
Mr Zelensky later accused Russia of stepping up its attacks despite the ceasefire, proving either that Mr Putin “does not have full control over his army” or that the truce is merely a PR exercise.
Russia's defence ministry then claimed that Ukraine had broken the ceasefire more than a thousand times, inflicting damages to infrastructure and causing civilian deaths.
“Now is the moment for Putin to show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion,” the British foreign ministry said in a statement.
Russia claims Ukraine broke ceasefire over a thousand times and reports civilian casualties
Russia's defence ministry claimed on Sunday that Ukraine had broken the Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin more than a thousand times, inflicting damages to infrastructure and causing civilian deaths.
The ministry said that Ukrainian forces had shot at Russian positions 444 times while it had counted more than 900 Ukrainian drone attacks.
It said the border districts of the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions have been attacked.
"As a result, there were deaths and injuries among the civilian population, as well as damage to civilian objects," it said in a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app.
The battlefield reports could not be independently verified.
The defence ministry also said that the Russian military had gained control of Novomikhailivka in eastern Ukraine before the declaration of ceasefire.
Tara Cobham20 April 2025 11:41
Russia steps up Ukraine attacks proving Putin has no control over army or truce is PR exercise, Zelensky says
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of stepping up its attacks despite the Easter ceasefire it declared, proving either that Vladimir Putin “does not have full control over his army” or that the truce is merely a PR exercise.
The Ukrainian president wrote on X on Sunday morning that Russia had launched 26 assaults from midnight up until midday local time (9am GMT).
"Either Putin does not have full control over his army, or the situation proves that in Russia, they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war, and are only interested in favourable PR coverage," Mr Zelensky's post said.
Tara Cobham20 April 2025 11:29
Putin shown to be 'sole cause' of war, Zelensky argues
Volodymyr Zelensky said that some areas were quieter since the ceasefire was announced, which he claimed showed Vladimir Putin to be the "sole cause" of the war.
"The moment Putin actually ordered a reduction in the intensity and brutality of attacks, fighting and killings decreased. The sole cause of this war and of its prolongation lies in Russia," the Ukrainian president wrote on X.
Ukraine shoots at Russian troops 444 times despite ceasefire, Russian news agency claims
Ukraine has shot at the positions of Russian troops 444 times despite the Easter ceasefire, Russian news agency IFX has claimed, citing Russia’s defence ministry.
Tara Cobham20 April 2025 10:18
Russia gained control of Novomikhailivka in Ukraine before truce, state news agency reports
The Russian military had gained control of Novomikhailivka in eastern Ukraine before Vladimir Putin’s declaration of the Easter ceasefire, Russian state news agency RIA has reported, citing Russia’s defence ministry.
Tara Cobham20 April 2025 10:16
Ukraine launched 48 drones at Russia overnight, state news agency claims
Ukraine launched 48 drones at Russia overnight including one in Crimea, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing Russia’s defence ministry.
Tara Cobham20 April 2025 10:14
Blasts reported in Russian-controlled Donetsk amid Easter ceasefire
Several blasts ripped through Russian-controlled Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Sunday amid an Easter ceasefire declared by the Kremlin, Russian news agency reported.
The TASS state news agency, citing local "operative services", said at least three blasts were heard in the city, which has been under Russia's control since 2014.
The RIA news agency also said that at least three explosions were heard in the city after 9am (7am BST), citing its reporter in the area.
The battlefield reports could not be immediately independently verified.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a surprise one-day ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday for Easter, but Kyiv said Russian forces continued artillery fire and called instead for an extended true halt to hostilities.
Tara Cobham20 April 2025 09:36
Message of Easter 'resonates in every Ukrainian heart', Zelensky says
Easter is a day that "gives us all hope" with meanings rooted in the story of Christ and a message that resonates "in every Ukrainian heart", the Ukrainian president said on Sunday.
The message "strengthens our faith, which, despite everything, has not faded over 1,152 days of full-scale war," Zelensky said.
"Each of us has lived through such moments – when it hurts deeply, when it’s unbearably hard, and you ask: 'God, why is this happening to us? The strikes, the explosions, the gunfire – all this suffering'," he said.
Zelensky said there was "God" within Ukrainians in their "willpower. Resilience. Compassion and humanity."
"This is His presence. He is within our people. And so, there is light in people," he said.
Vishwam Sankaran20 April 2025 08:41
Ukrainian PoWs reunite with loved ones in emotional homecoming
Mass prisoner swap brings emotional homecoming for hundreds of Ukrainian troops
Dozens of released Ukrainian prisoners of war embraced loved ones in emotional reunions after they were returned from Russian captivity. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said 277 Ukrainian soldiers were returned in the war's largest exchange on Saturday (19 April). Most Ukrainians were young people born after 2000, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said. Since Russia's invasion began, a total of 4,552 Ukrainians, both military and civilians, have been returned. Thousands of prisoners of war remain in captivity. Saturday's exchange was the 63rd since the start of the war.
Vishwam Sankaran20 April 2025 08:25
'Sooner or later evil will retreat,' Zelensky says in Easter message
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky shared a special message to Ukrainians on the occasion of Easter, that "sooner or later...evil will retreat", seemingly referring to the Russian invasion of the country.
"Evil may have its hour, but God will have His day. This is one of the meanings enshrined in the story of Christ," Zelensky said, adding that "sooner or later, yet inevitably, evil will retreat, and life will triumph".
"May evil’s hour end. May the day of life arrive. The day of peace. The day of Ukraine," he said.
"May there be peace. May there be Ukraine," the Ukrainian president added.
Vishwam Sankaran20 April 2025 08:20
English (US) ·