Ukraine’s military reported widespread drone and missile attacks by Russian forces overnight, only hours after a 30-hour Easter ceasefire declared by Moscow came to an end.
Air raid alerts were issued across several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia. Local authorities warned residents to take shelter as the threat of drone strikes returned.
Explosions Reported in Mykolaiv
In the southern city of Mykolaiv, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych confirmed that explosions were heard overnight. It remains unclear if anyone was injured. Later, regional governor Vitaliy Kim said that two missiles struck the city but reported no casualties or damage.
Kyiv Region Under Attack
In the capital region, local officials confirmed that air defense systems were actively targeting incoming drones. Ukraine’s air force reported a “rocket danger” in the central regions and noted that Russian aircraft were operating in the north-eastern and eastern areas of the country.
According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 96 drones during the night. Of these, 38 were shot down, and 16 failed to reach their targets—possibly due to electronic warfare countermeasures. Additionally, three missiles hit the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.
Ceasefire Ends Without Extension
Russia’s short-term truce, ordered by President Vladimir Putin, began at 6:00 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday and ended at midnight on Sunday. The Russian defense ministry stated that its forces had “strictly observed the ceasefire,” remaining in their existing positions throughout.
However, both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of repeatedly violating the truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russia broke the ceasefire nearly 1,900 times, including over 800 instances involving heavy weapons.
On Sunday evening, Zelensky said the fiercest attacks occurred near the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, a key logistics center currently under heavy pressure from Russian forces.
Zelensky Accuses Russia of False Peace Claims
Zelensky described Putin’s ceasefire as a “PR exercise,” accusing the Kremlin of trying to create a false image of peace. He argued that Russia remains the only reason the war continues, despite attempts to present themselves as willing to halt hostilities.
“This Easter clearly showed that Russia is the source of this war,” Zelensky said. “They pretend to stop, but they keep attacking.”
Long-Range Strike Ban Still Under Discussion
Zelensky proposed a ban on long-range drone and missile strikes targeting civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days. He suggested the ban could be extended further if both sides agreed. He added that Ukrainian strikes would mirror Russian behavior—if Russia stops, so will Ukraine.
Despite this offer, Russia has not officially agreed to the terms. President Putin has indicated he is open to peace talks but did not extend the ceasefire. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that no order was given to continue the truce.
U.S. Calls for End to War
The United States continues to urge both sides to pursue a peaceful resolution. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Sunday that Washington 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 said.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed interest in mediating the conflict, said he hoped a deal would be reached “this week.” However, he did not provide further details.
War Continues Into Third Year
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Since then, Russia has occupied about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
The war has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides, with no clear end in sight. Recent efforts at ceasefires and peace proposals have yet to produce lasting results.
