Russian President Vladimir Putin has given no orders to extend the so-called "Easter truce" beyond midnight on April 21, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS.
"It's like going on a hunger strike between breakfast and lunch and secretly eating candy," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky told CNN Prima News.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an Easter ceasefire starting on April 19, claiming that it would "test Ukraine's sincerity in pursuing peace talks," but across the front line, Ukrainian soldiers tell the Kyiv Independent they have yet to see any sign of it. The "Easter ceasefire" was supposed to come
"We'll continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin on behalf of Mr Jenkins," Anthony Albanese told 9News.
"I turned on the emergency lights, got out of the car, and started waving my arms to show that I was a civilian," Tkachov told Ukrainska Pravda.
Ukraine brought home another 277 soldiers in a major prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of the Easter holiday on April 19.
The error reportedly remained on screen for 20 minutes.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine has observed an increase in Russian shelling and the use of kamikaze drones since 10 a.m., with the use of FPV drones "doubling," according to Zelensky.
"There is currently panic in the units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet," the Atesh group said in a post on Telegram.
Wagner units were key to Russia's seizure of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast in May 2023.
Deadly attacks reportedly occurred after Russia's alleged Easter ceasefire was supposed to come into effect.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has lauded Ukraine's "resilience, compassion, and humanity" in his Easter address on April 20, adding the country's faith has "not faded over 1,152 days of full-scale war."
The number includes 950 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
"Germany, of all places, has a decisive role to play in stopping murder and bringing about a just peace," Ukrainian diplomat Andrii Melnyk wrote on April 19.
The president said that at least 67 Ukrainian priests, pastors, and monks have been killed or tortured by Russian forces, and that 640 religious sites—most of them Christian—have been destroyed since the start of the full-scale invasion.
"Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same."
"Thirty hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "Thirty days can give peace a chance."
A senior Ukrainian military officer said his unit and others received orders to cease fire on Russian positions minutes after the truce was set to begin. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
"In Belgorod Oblast, our military advanced and increased our zone of control," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 19, citing reports from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
"The Verkhovna Rada, as it adopted (martial law), can cancel it, even if there are some decisions that require it," Defense Committee Secretary Roman Kostenko said in an interview with New Voice.
The number of people injured in Russia's April 18 missile attack on Kharkiv has risen to 120, with 18 victims hospitalized, including four children.
Another 277 Ukrainian soldiers returned home in a major prisoner swap with Russia mediated by the United Arab Emirates, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 19.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire on the Easter weekend, ordering a halt to all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.
Bohdan Zhuk, director of the Sunny Bunny film festival, told the Kyiv Independent that the organizers had received threats prior to the event.
Iran filed a case at the International Court of Justice on April 17, seeking to overturn a ruling by the International Civil Aviation Organization that held Tehran responsible for the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed eight missiles of different types, and 87 long-range drones – 33 of which were shot down and 36 turned out to be decoy, on April 19.
"I encourage all my colleagues in Congress to come here," U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a pro-Ukraine Republican representing Pennsylvania, said during his visit to the front line.
Russian troops are solidifying their presence in the village of Kalynove in Donetsk Oblast as they prepare for an advance toward Stara Mykolaivka and the road to Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState reported on April 18.
The number includes 1,180 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
The U.S. indicated during recent talks in Paris that it has developed a draft concept for how a comprehensive ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia might be monitored if one can be achieved, a Western official said.
The attacks come shortly after Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that the 30-day partial ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes had expired.
Recognizing Russia’s control of Crimea would mark a significant win for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long pushed for international legitimacy over the territory.
(Updated: )
