Just hours after a 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow came to an end, Ukraine has reported a fresh wave of Russian drone and missile attacks across multiple regions. The Ukrainian Air Force issued air raid alerts for Kyiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia as residents were urged to take shelter.
Explosions in Mykolaiv and Missile Attacks Confirmed
In the southern city of Mykolaiv, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych confirmed that “explosions were heard” late Sunday night. Regional Governor Vitaliy Kim later reported that the city was struck by missiles, though no casualties or damage were recorded.
Ukraine’s Air Force noted “rocket danger” in central areas and confirmed the presence of active Russian aircraft in the north-eastern and eastern regions. Air defence systems were reported to be engaged in the Kyiv area.
Ceasefire Ends Amid Mutual Accusations
The truce, which lasted from Saturday evening to midnight on Sunday Moscow time (21:00 GMT), was declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a temporary halt to hostilities during Orthodox Easter. However, both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
While the Kremlin has not commented on the new wave of strikes, a Kremlin spokesperson confirmed earlier that there would be no extension of the truce beyond Sunday.
Zelensky: Russian Truce Was “PR” Move
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the truce as a public relations stunt, calling Putin’s words “empty.” He claimed that Russia had carried out 1,882 attacks during the ceasefire period, 812 of which involved heavy weaponry.
He emphasized Ukraine’s right to respond, stating, “We will respond to silence with silence, our strikes will be to protect against Russian strikes.” Zelensky also proposed a longer pause in attacks on civilian infrastructure, suggesting a 30-day cessation of long-range drone and missile strikes with the possibility of extension.
Trump Calls for Peace Deal
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump weighed in, saying he hoped Russia and Ukraine would reach a peace deal “this week,” though he provided no specifics.
War Grinds On as Civilian Toll Mounts
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. As of now, Russia controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014. The conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, predominantly soldiers, with no clear resolution in sight.
While Putin’s ceasefire gesture appeared to offer a brief respite, the swift resumption of hostilities reinforces the deep mistrust and continued volatility along the frontlines.
