Russia Another air raid in Ukraine after ceasefire - explosions
Shortly after the end of the Easter ceasefire ordered by Moscow in the Ukraine war, there were renewed air raids in large parts of Ukraine during the night. The Ukrainian air force warned of the danger of enemy air strikes in the Sumy region near the border as well as in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Dnipro, among other places. There were reports of explosions in several places. There was initially no information on damage or casualties.
21.04.2025, 05:50
SDA
Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a 30-hour ceasefire on Saturday, which ended at midnight Moscow time (23:00 CEST on Sunday).
Moscow did not comply with a request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to extend the ceasefire by 30 days after Easter. The Kremlin also did not respond to a further proposal by Zelenskyi to at least refrain from attacking civilian objects with drones, cruise missiles and rockets for 30 days.
Zelenskyi: Russia violates Easter ceasefire almost 3,000 times
After the expiry of the Easter ceasefire ordered by Moscow, Ukrainian President Zelensky accused the Russian armed forces of 2,935 violations of the ceasefire during the course of the day. Most of the attacks by the Russian armed forces were directed against Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, Selensky reported on Platform X.
According to the report, the ceasefire did not apply to the Russian region of Kursk near the border. There had been a total of 96 Russian attacks along the entire front line. In 1,882 cases, shelling of Ukrainian positions was reported. There were also more than 950 drone missions, Selenskyj reported, citing information from Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Olexander Syrskyj.
"Actions always speak louder than words"
The Ukrainian president complained that Moscow had not complied with his demand for an extension of the ceasefire or his proposal for a limited ceasefire in the air.
Zelensky announced that his country's measures would remain symmetrical: "Ceasefire will be answered with ceasefire, and Russian attacks will be answered with our own in defense," he continued. "Actions always speak louder than words."
In the war, which has been going on for more than three years, Ukraine has been complaining about heavy airstrikes from the Russian side on an almost daily basis, causing massive damage to energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Again and again, civilians die or are injured. Although Russia always emphasizes that it is only attacking military targets, images show almost daily hits on residential buildings or other civilian objects.
USA increasingly impatient
The US government is becoming increasingly impatient in its efforts to mediate between Ukraine and Russia and bring an end to the war. US President Donald Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social on Sunday evening: "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week". He added: "Both will then start doing great business with the United States of America, which is doing great, and making a fortune."
Trump is demanding a willingness to compromise from both sides - which is leading to concerns, particularly among Ukraine's Western allies, that it will have to make painful concessions. Putin has not yet backed down from his maximum demands. A few days ago, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear that the USA expects rapid progress - and could cease its efforts to achieve peace if it concludes that an end to the war does not appear feasible.
Recent problems with ceasefire for energy facilities
During his phone call with US President Trump on March 18, Putin ordered a ceasefire for energy facilities. However, Zelenskyi also complained about a large number of violations on the Russian side. Moscow also listed dozens of cases in which Russian energy infrastructure had been attacked by the Ukrainian side. This agreement expired last week without Putin officially ordering an extension.
Such thematically limited ceasefires are considered easier to implement than the comprehensive ceasefires at sea, on land and in the air. Kiev and Moscow have repeatedly warned that a general ceasefire could be used above all to allow the opponents to reposition and rearm in order to then resume fighting in a stronger position. The two warring parties accuse each other of having no real interest in peace.
