The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
A chaplain of the 115th brigade gives a blessing to military personnel during Easter celebrations in Lyman, Ukraine on April 20, 2025. Ukrainian servicemen celebrate Easter on the Lyman front with cakes, painted eggs and other ritual food. (Jose Colon / Anadolu via Getty Images)
Trump hopes Russia, Ukraine ‘make a deal this week,’ promises ‘big business’ with US. “Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week. Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune.”
Nearly 3,000 Russian ceasefire violations reported from front line during Easter ‘truce,’ Zelensky says. The military reported 67 Russian assaults on Ukrainian positions, 1,355 instances of shelling, and 673 uses of Russian first-person-view (FPV) drones.
‘They’re hitting us with everything‘ — No sign of Russia’s Easter ‘truce,’ Ukrainian soldiers say. While it was “quiet until morning,” Ukrainian forces in the Sumy direction have observed Russian forces using drones to lay mines across roads.
Putin does not plan to extend Easter ‘truce,’ Kremlin says. 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.
Ukraine calls for 30-day ban on long-range drone and missile strikes. “Ukraine proposes to abandon any strikes with long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days with the possibility of extension,” Zelensky said on April 20, amid the so-called “Easter truce.”
Your contribution helps keep the Kyiv Independent going. Become a member today.
Ukraine’s partisans report ‘panic’ among Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, claim Russian officers’ families have fled. “There is currently panic in the units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” the Atesh group said in a post on Telegram.
Russia ‘working hard’ to return Wagner POWs, Ukraine’s HUR says. Wagner units were key to Russia’s seizure of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast in May 2023.
Fox News labels Kyiv a Russian city, Ukraine calls for ‘apology and investigation.’ During its coverage of Easter services on April 20, Fox News aired footage of religious services from around the world, including the service Vladimir Putin attended in Moscow. Simultaneously, the news network showed live images from Easter religious services in Kyiv, misidentifying the Ukrainian capital as a Russian city. The error reportedly remained on screen for 20 minutes.
Russian forces target Ukrainian volunteer evacuating civilians with FPV drones during Easter ‘ceasefire.’ “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.
Moscow court fines Google for disclosing data on Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine. The ruling reportedly stems from a YouTube video that allegedly revealed both casualty figures and personal details of Russian soldiers killed during the full-scale invasion.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Moscow violates ‘Easter truce,’ Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in swap with Russia
Multiple Russian ceasefire violations across the front line have been reported since an Easter truce was declared by the Kremlin, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on April 20.
Photo: Francis Farrell / The Kyiv Independent
International response
US wants Putin to extend Easter truce beyond Sunday, State Department says. “We remain committed to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on April 20.
Czech FM dismisses Putin’s Easter truce as ‘media stunt.’ “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.
Australia will continue to petition Russia for POW’s release, PM says. “We’ll continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of (Russian President) Vladimir Putin on behalf of Mr Jenkins,” Anthony Albanese told 9News.
Tears and joy at largest POW swap between Ukraine and Russia
In other news
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina wins 1st title in 2 years at Rouen tournament. Svitolina defeated Serbian tennis player Olga Danilova at the WTA 250 Open, winning her 18th title.
Ukraine Daily is made possible thanks to support of our readers.
For as little as $5/month you can help us keep going.
Your donation is processed by a U.S.-based secure payment system.
We have no access to your bank data.
This newsletter is open for sponsorship. Boost your brand’s visibility by reaching thousands of engaged subscribers. Click here for more details.
Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Francis Farrell, Kate Tsurkan, Olena Goncharova, Volodymyr Ivanyshyn, and Abbey Fenbert.
If you’re enjoying this newsletter, consider joining our membership program. Start supporting independent journalism today.
