Russian Drone Strikes Target Odesa Ahead of Orthodox Easter Ceasefire
KYIV, Ukraine — Recent drone strikes in Odesa claimed the lives of at least two individuals as reported by local authorities, just before a proposed ceasefire coinciding with the Orthodox Easter holiday.
The attacks affected a residential area of the Black Sea port city, damaging apartments, homes, and a kindergarten, resulting in additional injuries to two civilians.
In a major offensive, Russia deployed around 160 drones overnight, with Ukraine’s air force successfully intercepting or shooting down 133 of them. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also reported that 99 drones were eliminated across Ukraine and occupied Crimea during the same timeframe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire over the Easter weekend, with a directive for Russian troops to halt military operations starting at 4 PM on Saturday through the conclusion of Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed commitment to observing the ceasefire, framing it as an opportunity to enhance peace efforts. He did, however, caution that any violations by Russia would elicit an immediate military response.
Zelenskiy emphasized that “Easter should be a time of silence and security” and suggested that a ceasefire could pave the way for genuine peace advancements. However, he reiterated Ukraine’s resolve, stating that the country would respond decisively to any breaches of the ceasefire agreement.
Earlier, Ukraine had proposed a moratorium on attacks targeting each other’s energy infrastructures during the Orthodox Easter celebrations. Nonetheless, prior ceasefire agreements have largely yielded limited results, with both sides consistently accusing one another of violations.
Prisoner Exchange Takes Place Amid Tensions
In a separate development, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced the repatriation of 175 soldiers as part of a prisoner exchange that transpired on Saturday.
President Zelenskiy confirmed the details of the exchange, stating a total of 175 military personnel and seven civilians were returned to Ukraine. “Most of them have been in captivity since 2022, and finally, they are coming home,” he noted in a post on X.
In the northern Ukrainian city, Svitlana Pohosyan anxiously awaited her son’s return. Reflecting on the ceasefire, she expressed hope for peace on this sacred day, stating, “I want to believe, God willing… That will be the best celebration for me, and for every mother, every family.”
The intermittent prisoner swaps have been one of the few positive outcomes amid prolonged negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, which have shown little progress on crucial issues fundamental to halting hostilities.
In a concurrent report, Russian state media revealed that seven residents from Russia’s Kursk region were also returned after being captured by Ukrainian forces. Russian human rights ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova welcomed them back at the border between Belarus and Ukraine.
These returnees represent the last group taken from Kursk to Ukraine after Ukrainian forces captured parts of the region in August 2024, marking a significant episode in the ongoing conflict. This unexpected invasion was one of the most noteworthy military successes against Russia since World War II and dealt a substantial blow to the Kremlin’s credibility.
