Russian Troops Break Easter Ceasefire, Kill Evacuation Team Near Huliaipole

Russian forces violated the ceasefire agreed for the Easter truce between Ukraine and Russia, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The ceasefire was meant to take effect after 4:00 p.m. on April 11 for Easter. However, by 10:00 p.m. that same day, Russian forces had already carried out 469 shelling attacks.

Russian forces carried out 22 ground assaults in attempts to advance on Ukrainian defensive positions, and also launched 153 artillery strikes.

Most of the attacks involved drones. They used 19 kamikaze drones of the Lancet and Molniya types, along with 275 FPV drone strikes.

In addition, Russian forces killed an evacuation team near Huliaipilske, just a few kilometers from the line of contact.

Similar attempts at an “Easter truce” have taken place before. In 2025, Putin also declared a unilateral ceasefire for the Easter period.

At that time, Russian forces violated the ceasefire nearly 2,935 times in a single day through assaults, heavy shelling, and drone attacks.

Ukraine responded in kind, but Moscow ignored proposals to extend the pause or introduce a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.

Militarnyi previously reported on the April 11 morning address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He emphasized that the Ukrainian Defense Forces would act symmetrically and observe the Easter ceasefire only if Russia refrains from attacks.

He also noted that Ukraine had already informed Russia of this reciprocal approach and of the possibility of extending the ceasefire beyond the holiday.

On April 9, 2026, Russia unilaterally announced the introduction of a so-called “Easter truce.”

At that time, Russian media, citing Vladimir Putin, reported that the ceasefire would begin at 4:00 p.m. on April 11 and end on the evening of April 12. The Russian side did not specify an exact time.