Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa overnight into Saturday, local authorities reported, ahead of a proposed ceasefire for Orthodox Easter. A further two people were wounded in the attack on the Black Sea port city, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses, and a kindergarten.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. Saturday until the end of Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to abide by the ceasefire but warned of a swift military response to any violations. He described the ceasefire as an opportunity to build on peace initiatives, stating, 'Easter should be a time of silence and safety.'
Ukraine had earlier proposed to Russia a pause in attacks on each other's energy infrastructure over the Orthodox Easter holiday. Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Putin's move as a 'humanitarian gesture,' but emphasized Moscow's focus on a comprehensive settlement based on its longstanding demands.