The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]

Russia’s war against Ukraine

People wait as their baskets of Easter cakes are being blessed at the city’s churches on the eve of Easter in Lviv, Ukraine on April 19, 2025. This year, Christians of Western and Eastern Rites will celebrate Easter at the same time on April 20. (Michael Sorrow / Anadolu via Getty Images)

Putin announces Easter ceasefire, Zelensky calls for 30-day truce. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire on the Easter weekend, ordering a halt to all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

Ukraine proposes extending truce beyond Easter Sunday. “Thirty hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “Thirty days can give peace a chance.”

Ukraine orders troops to cease fire, document Russian violations after Putin declares ‘Easter truce,’ BBC Russia reports. A senior Ukrainian military officer said his unit and others received orders to cease fire on Russian positions minutes after the truce was set to begin. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in swap with Russia. Another 277 Ukrainian soldiers returned home in a major prisoner swap with Russia mediated by the United Arab Emirates, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 19.

Ukraine advances in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, Zelensky says. “In Belgorod Oblast, our military advanced and increased our zone of control,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 19, citing reports from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

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Over 600 religious sites destroyed in Ukraine since start of Russia’s full-scale war. The president said that at least 67 Ukrainian priests, pastors, and monks have been killed or tortured by Russian forces, and that 640 religious sites—most of them Christian—have been destroyed since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Republican US Congressman Fitzpatrick visits Ukraine’s front line, signs a shell for Putin. “I encourage all my colleagues in Congress to come here,” U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a pro-Ukraine Republican representing Pennsylvania, said during his visit to the front line.

Kyiv can end martial law if war ends by August, official says. “The Verkhovna Rada, as it adopted (martial law), can cancel it, even if there are some decisions that require it,” Defense Committee Secretary Roman Kostenko said in an interview with New Voice.

Russia prepares to push toward Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, monitoring group says. Russian troops are solidifying their presence in the village of Kalynove in Donetsk Oblast as they prepare for an advance toward Stara Mykolaivka and the road to Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState reported on April 18.

Read our exclusives

‘More traitors in Russia’ — Ukrainian intel officer shares secrets of recent deep-strike drone successes

The aerial war between Russia and Ukraine is explosive in every sense. But beyond the physical dimension, it is also a battle of morale and information. Both sides are locked in a continuous back-and-forth of public statements and dramatic videos claiming hits and damage to the other side.

Photo: Pablo Miranzo / Anadolu via Getty Images

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Human cost of Russia’s war

120 injured in Russian missile strike on Kharkiv during Good Friday, governor says. The number of people injured in Russia’s April 18 missile attack on Kharkiv has risen to 120, with 18 victims hospitalized, including four children.

6 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed eight missiles of different types, and 87 long-range drones – 33 of which were shot down and 36 turned out to be decoy, on April 19.

General Staff: Russia has lost 940,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. The number includes 1,180 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

4 days of hunting Russian drones

International response

UK, Italy urge Russia to accept full ceasefire in Ukraine. “Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same,” a U.K. foreign ministry spokesperson said. Putin said he ordered a halt on combat operations in Russia’s war against Ukraine from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

Iran files UN court case against Ukraine, Canada, Sweden and UK over 2020 downing of PS752 flight. Iran filed a case at the International Court of Justice on April 17, seeking to overturn a ruling by the International Civil Aviation Organization that held Tehran responsible for the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet.

In other news

Police clash with far-right protesters at LGBTQ+ film festival in Kyiv. Bohdan Zhuk, director of the Sunny Bunny film festival, told the Kyiv Independent that the organizers had received threats prior to the event.

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