Overview
- The ceasefire, which began Saturday at 4 p.m. local time, followed Kyiv’s proposal and a Kremlin order to halt fire while troops stayed ready to answer provocations.
- Hours before the pause, Ukrainian officials reported deadly strikes in Odessa and Poltava and injuries in Sumy, while Russian authorities cited drone damage in the Krasnodar region.
- Both governments said Saturday they exchanged 175 prisoners each, with the United Arab Emirates acting as a mediator and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming the returns.
- Ukraine’s General Staff said by Saturday evening it had logged 469 violations of the Easter ceasefire, as both militaries had pledged to respond to any attacks.
- The Kremlin called the pause a humanitarian gesture but indicated fighting would resume absent Ukrainian acceptance of Russian terms on Donbass, a stance Kyiv rejects.