Ukraine Reports Russian Drone Strikes Just Hours After Moscow's Easter Truce Ends
Tensions reignited across Ukraine just hours after Russia's self-declared Easter truce expired, with Kyiv reporting waves of drone and missile attacks targeting several regions. The short-lived ceasefire, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to last from Saturday evening until midnight Sunday Moscow time, has now given way to renewed hostilities, intensifying an already devastating conflict that has dragged on for over two years.
Ukraine’s air force issued raid alerts across a swath of the country overnight, including the Kyiv region, as well as Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia. In Mykolaiv, explosions were reported by Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych, although initial reports indicated there were no casualties or significant damage. In the capital, local officials confirmed that air defense systems were active and "working on targets" throughout the night as sirens blared and residents were urged to take shelter.
The Ukrainian military also flagged what it described as a "rocket danger" in the central regions, with Russian aircraft reported to be particularly active in the northeastern and eastern fronts. In a separate statement, regional governor Vitaliy Kim confirmed that missiles were fired at Mykolaiv, though no injuries were recorded.
The 30-hour ceasefire had been seen by some as a potential opening for diplomatic progress, with both the Kremlin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially agreeing to halt hostilities during the Orthodox Easter weekend. However, even before the truce officially ended, both sides accused each other of violations, raising questions about its sincerity and effectiveness.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that there were no plans to extend the ceasefire beyond midnight Sunday. At the same time, Russia’s defense ministry maintained that its forces had “strictly observed” the terms of the truce. However, President Zelensky pushed back hard on these claims. Citing a report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelensky stated that Russia had carried out 1,882 instances of shelling during the ceasefire period, including 812 involving heavy weaponry.
"The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirrored: we will respond to silence with silence, our strikes will be to protect against Russian strikes," Zelensky said in a late Sunday address. He described the brief truce as a "PR stunt" by Putin and criticized the Russian leader for trying to manufacture the illusion of peace. “This Easter has clearly demonstrated that the only source of this war, and the reason it drags on, is Russia,” he added.
Zelensky had earlier proposed a longer ceasefire period, suggesting a 30-day halt to long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, potentially with an option for extension. However, there was no indication from Moscow that it was considering such a measure. Instead, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of using US-supplied Himars missiles during the truce, a claim that has not been independently verified.
Amid the renewed violence, international voices continued to call for a peaceful resolution. US President Donald Trump, who has recently made efforts to mediate peace between the two nations, expressed hope on Sunday that “Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week.” He did not provide further details. Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesperson reaffirmed Washington’s position, stating that the US remains “committed to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire.”
“It is long past time to stop the death and destruction and end this war,” the spokesperson added.
The war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and caused massive devastation. Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Despite numerous international efforts, the conflict shows little sign of winding down, with each side entrenched in its positions and mutual distrust at an all-time high.
Recent months have seen intensified Russian offensives in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, particularly around the besieged city of Pokrovsk, a crucial logistical hub. Ukraine continues to resist and mount counter-offensives but faces growing challenges in maintaining momentum without additional international support and weaponry.
The end of the Easter truce underscores the fragility of any peace efforts between Moscow and Kyiv. As drone strikes once again light up Ukrainian skies, the hope that a religious holiday might offer a path toward de-escalation has been swiftly extinguished, replaced by the grim reality that the war remains far from over.
Reference From:www.bbc.com