Russia and Ukraine Accuse Each Other of Easter Ceasefire Violations

RUSSIA – The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that Ukraine had violated the Easter ceasefire 1,971 times since Saturday through Sunday morning.

“In total, 1,971 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian Armed Forces units were recorded between 4:00 PM on April 11 and 8:00 AM on April 12,” the ministry said.

The Kursk region governor Alexander Khinshtein reported that Ukrainian forces had attempted numerous drone strikes in the region since Saturday morning through Sunday morning, but added the attempts were thwarted after the drones were intercepted.

“From 9:00 a.m. on April 11 to 7:00 a.m. on April 12, nine enemy drones of various types were shot down. Drones attacked our territory 15 times using explosive devices. No information regarding shelling was received,” he said in a social media statement.

He added that no casualties were reported.

In another statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that in the last 24 hours, 134 Ukrainian drones and 6 aerial bombs had been intercepted by air defenses.

“Air defense systems shot down six guided aerial bombs and 134 unmanned aerial vehicles,” the ministry said.

Ukraine on the other hand said that Russia had violated the Easter ceasefire 2,299 times since it became effective, as of Sunday morning.

Ukraine said that “25 enemy assaults, 365 enemy shellings, 566 strikes by kamikaze drones (Lancet, Molniya), and 767 strikes by FPV drones” were reported since Saturday evening, with “28 enemy assaults, 479 enemy shellings, 747 strikes by kamikaze drones (Lancet, Molniya), and 1,045 strikes by FPV drones” reported as of Sunday morning.