CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine has expressed conditional willingness to reciprocate any genuine ceasefire announced by Russia, casting doubt on the recent temporary ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This ceasefire, which is set to begin on Saturday evening and extend through Easter Sunday, was framed by the Kremlin as a humanitarian gesture. However, the lack of details regarding its monitoring or coverage of active combat areas has raised skepticism in Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that if Russia genuinely adheres to a full and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine would respond in kind, adopting a defensive posture. He emphasized that a ceasefire during the Easter weekend could be an indicator of Moscow's true motives. Zelenskyy proposed extending the ceasefire beyond Easter Day on April 20, remarking that "30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures." Reports from Ukrainian military officials suggest that Russian assaults and artillery fire continued along various sections of the extensive 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, contradicting the notion of a significant halt in hostilities.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha referenced a prior U.S. proposal for a full interim ceasefire lasting 30 days, which Russia had rejected. In his remarks on social media, he highlighted the disparity between Putin's 30-hour ceasefire and the previously proposed longer duration, indicating skepticism based on Russia's historical track record of contrasting statements and actions.
Coinciding with the ceasefire announcement, Ukraine and Russia executed their largest prisoner exchange since the onset of full-scale conflict over three years ago. Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that 246 Russian service members were returned from Ukraine, while 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were exchanged for 15 Russian soldiers requiring urgent medical care. Ukrainian sources confirmed that 277 Ukrainian fighters have been freed from captivity, with both sides thanking the United Arab Emirates for its mediating role in the negotiations.
Among the freed POWs was 23-year-old Ihor Lohvynchuk, who had not been seen by his mother, Nataliia Lohvynchuk, in three years since his capture during the Battle of Mariupol in the spring of 2022. After enduring significant weight loss while in captivity, he expressed disbelief at his release, saying, "It still doesn’t feel real." His mother, emotional at their reunion, called for international action to help bring all Ukrainian fighters home.
Despite recent developments, thousands of POWs remain unaccounted for, and this exchange marked the fourth of the year and the 63rd since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. In total, since the war began, Ukraine has successfully secured the release of 4,552 individuals from captivity, comprising both military personnel and civilians.
On the battlefield, Russia claimed to have regained control over nearly all of Kursk, particularly noting a recent push by its forces to dislodge Ukrainian troops from the village of Oleshnya, a location significant for past Ukrainian incursion. General Valery Gerasimov reported to Putin that approximately 1,260 square kilometers, or 99.5%, of the territory where the invasion took place has been "liberated." However, Zelenskyy disputed this, asserting that Ukrainian forces continue to be active within Russian territory, aimed at hindering offensives toward Ukraine's Sumy region.
In related military actions, the Ukrainian air force reported that a large-scale Russian drone attack overnight involved 87 explosive drones and decoys, with 33 intercepted. Damaging incidents attributed to Russian strikes included attacks on farms in Odesa and fires ignited in the Sumy region; although these were contained, no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, Russia's defense officials claimed to have intercepted two Ukrainian drones during this period.
