In a sudden turn of violent escalation, Russia unleashed a string of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine after a short-lived Easter truce lapsed. Overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said, Russian troops bombed eastern and southern areas with 96 drones and three missiles.
The outbreak of renewed military activity follows a 30-hour ceasefire, which had been announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin for “humanitarian reasons.” The new offensive makes it harder for ongoing attempts at the United States to arrange a more sustainable ceasefire, given Washington’s inability to get Moscow to the negotiating table.
The raids mostly hit the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions, based on the Air Force’s Telegram statement. The Ukrainian air defenses successfully shot down 42 drones and deflected another 47, reducing any possible damage. There were reportedly no casualties or major damage in initial reports, though officials in the southern city of Mykolaiv confirmed hits from missiles.
Putin’s temporary ceasefire came at the moment when U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Washington could pull back from attempts at brokering a solution unless there were not further delays. In reaction to the ceasefire declaration, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned it as a tactic and called for an extended ceasefire that would actually develop into peace.
“This will be a test of Russia’s true intentions. Thirty hours may make headlines, but it will not create genuine trust. A 30-day ceasefire could provide a real chance for peace,” Zelenskyy said.
The U.S. State Department welcomed an extension of the temporary cessation of hostilities, but the Kremlin quickly rejected such ideas. After the end of the ceasefire, the missile and drone attack resumed almost at once.
The recent ceasefire has brought little hope for U.S. attempts to facilitate a lasting peace, as both Moscow and Kyiv continue to blame each other for breaking the terms. Although there was a quiet Sunday for air raid sirens, Ukrainian officials reported almost 3,000 violations of the ceasefire, with the Pokrovsk front seeing the most intense shelling.
Russia’s Defence Ministry alleged that Ukrainian troops launched 444 attacks on Russian positions during the ceasefire, and more than 900 drone strikes. These claims, however, are unconfirmed and disputed.
In the midst of the continuing chaos, Trump on Sunday hoped that a peace deal could be signed within the week, though the situation is still unclear as fighting resumes.
