On Saturday, both Russia and Ukraine accused one another of breaching a temporary ceasefire that had been established to coincide with Orthodox Easter, which marks four years of conflict between the two nations. Officials from two Russian border regions reported that Ukrainian drones had targeted locations in Kursk and Belgorod, resulting in injuries to five individuals. Conversely, Ukraine’s military leadership claimed that Russian forces had violated the 32-hour ceasefire by engaging in offensive operations, including shelling and drone attacks.
By the end of Saturday, Ukraine’s military posted on Facebook that they had documented “469 violations of the ceasefire,” which included 22 enemy assault attempts, 153 shelling incidents, 19 strikes from attack drones, and 275 assaults by FPV drones. Overall, they reported that Russia executed 57 airstrikes, released 182 guided bombs, deployed 3,928 drones, and carried out 2,454 shelling operations targeting both civilian areas and Ukrainian military positions.
In the Kursk region, which shares a border with Ukraine, Governor Alexander Khinshtein accused Kyiv of violating the truce by launching a drone attack on a gas station in Lgov, which resulted in injuries to three individuals, including an infant.
Notwithstanding the heightened tensions surrounding the ceasefire, both countries successfully exchanged 175 prisoners of war on Saturday, as confirmed by officials from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the return of 175 servicemen and seven civilians from Russian custody. Andrii Yusov, a representative from Ukrainian defense intelligence, noted that 163 of those released had been detained since 2022, describing the exchange as a “significant achievement.” He added that the conditions in which the returning individuals found themselves varied greatly. Russia’s defense ministry stated that the United Arab Emirates facilitated the prisoner exchange, which included 175 servicemen and seven civilians from the Kursk region.
Reports from Russian news agencies indicated that President Vladimir Putin attended midnight services at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. In his Easter message, Putin referred to the holiday as the “triumph of love, good, and justice,” and expressed gratitude to Orthodox Patriarch Kirill for his support of those involved in Russia’s military campaign, which is termed a “special military operation.” He acknowledged the valuable assistance provided to the military personnel and veterans engaged in the operation.
In his evening video address, President Zelenskyy did not mention the alleged violations of the ceasefire. Instead, he reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to the truce and expressed a desire for its extension. “It would be appropriate for the ceasefire to last longer,” he stated, adding that Ukraine had proposed this to Russia. He cautioned that if Russia opts for war over peace, it would reveal to the world, particularly the United States, who genuinely seeks resolution.
On another note, Hungarians are set to vote on Sunday in an election that could potentially end Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure. For Ukraine, a victory for the opposition could lead to the unblocking of a crucial €90 billion (approximately US$105 billion) European Union loan that is essential for its war efforts, while simultaneously removing Russia’s closest ally within the EU.
