Ukraine Faces Renewed Russian Drone Assaults Following Expiration of Easter Truce

Ukrainian cities are bracing for further assaults as drone strikes are reported, raising concerns about civilian safety and ongoing peace efforts.

Ukraine’s military has alerted its forces to a series of Russian drone attacks across numerous regions just hours after a temporary “Easter truce,” announced by Moscow, came to an end. Air raid warnings were issued for the Kyiv region, along with Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

Residents in Mykolaiv reported hearing explosions, though initial reports indicate uncertainty about potential casualties. As the night progressed, local authorities in several cities, including the capital Kyiv, advised residents to seek shelter immediately due to the heightened risk of drone strikes. The Russian military has not yet commented on the reports of attacks.

The ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin came to an end at midnight Sunday Moscow time (21:00 GMT), with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of violations during the truce period. This escalation follows a full-scale invasion by Russia, which began on February 24, 2022, and has resulted in the occupation of approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

In related developments, US President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for a resolution to the conflict, expressed hopes that Russia and Ukraine could reach an agreement this week, though he provided no specifics on potential negotiations. The ongoing conflict has led to significant loss of life and injuries on both sides, with a large number of those affected being military personnel. Last month, Moscow presented a long list of conditions in response to the full and unconditional ceasefire that had been established through discussions between the US and Ukraine.