Russian Drone Attacks Intensify Following End of Easter Truce

Reports indicate a surge in drone attacks across several regions in Ukraine, raising tensions following a short-lived truce.

Ukraine's air force reported a series of Russian drone attacks late Sunday, launching a series of alerts as the 30-hour "Easter truce" declared by Moscow came to an abrupt end. As cities across the nation faced overnight strikes, alerts were issued for regions, including Kyiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

In Mykolaiv, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych noted that loud explosions were reported, but there has been no immediate confirmation of casualties. The Russian military has yet to respond to these claims. The Easter truce, which President Vladimir Putin had declared, expired at midnight on Sunday (21:00 GMT), with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of violating the ceasefire terms.

Residents in various Ukrainian cities, including the capital, were warned by local officials to seek refuge in nearby shelters due to the imminent threat posed by drone strikes. The accuracy of the claims made by both sides has not been independently verified by the BBC.

In a related political context, US President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for a resolution to the conflict, remarked late Sunday, "hopefully, Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week," though he did not elaborate on specifics.

Since initiating a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia has gained control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was seized in 2014. The ongoing conflict has resulted in an estimated death toll of hundreds of thousands, predominantly among military personnel, since its escalation. Additionally, last month, Moscow proposed a list of conditions in response to a ceasefire agreement brokered between the US and Ukraine.