Ukraine's Response to Russian Aggression: Latest Developments
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following the report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that Russian forces violated the "Easter truce" 2935 times. He emphasized that Ukraine's response will be "mirror-like".
Zelensky noted: "The total number of violations by the Russian army of their own promise of silence within this day is 2935".
Details: The most shelling and assaults occurred in the Pokrovsk direction.
The President added that "in the Kursk direction, the Russian promise of complete silence also was not maintained".
According to Zelensky, there were a total of 96 Russian assaults, 1882 shellings of Ukrainian positions, including 812 from heavy weaponry, and more than 950 instances of Russian FPV drones being used.
Zelensky's direct quote: "On this day, Moscow lacked the courage to respond to the proposal for a complete ceasefire for the next 30 days after Easter, as well as to the suggestion to maintain at least silence in the air regarding civilian infrastructure and refrain from missile and drone strikes.
The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirror-like: we will respond to silence with silence, and our strikes will respond to protection from Russian attacks. Actions always speak louder than words."
Background: On the evening of April 19, Zelensky, after the report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that the Russian "Easter truce" does not extend to the Kursk and Belgorod regions, and shelling has not ceased in other areas along the front.
Zelensky proposed to Russia to extend the ban on long-range strikes for 30 days, as no air alarms were recorded during the so-called "Easter truce" despite numerous violations by the RF along the front.
Additional Information:
- On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an "Easter truce", which allegedly aimed to halt all hostilities in Ukraine from the evening of April 19 to midnight April 21. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that the occupiers would adhere to the ceasefire regime only if Kyiv also respects it.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday evening that Ukraine would respond mirroring Russia's ceasefire actions. He also proposed to extend the truce even after April 20 if complete silence truly prevails.
- According to monitoring data from the DeepState project, military personnel did not feel any manifestations of the so-called "Easter truce" promised by the Russians.
- According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, from the beginning of April 20 until 4 PM, despite the announced Russian "truce", there were 45 combat encounters along the front, with 20 in the Pokrovsk direction.
- The Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not give the order to extend the so-called "Easter truce", which the Russians did not adhere to, after midnight on April 21.