Russia has launched a wave of aerial attacks at Ukraine in an abrupt end to a fragile 30-hour Easter truce between the two sides.
The renewed strikes, confirmed by both Russia and Ukraine, cast doubt on Donald Trump’s hopes for a broader ceasefire between the two sides, hours after the US President said he hoped a “deal” could be struck this week.
“With the end of the ceasefire, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued to conduct the special military operation,” the Russian army said in a statement, using its term for the military offensive.
Both sides had accused the other of thousands of instances of violating the supposed ceasefire, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
Just hours after the truce ended at midnight local time (9pm Irish time) yesterday, Ukrainian officials reported renewed drone and missile strikes on the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.
Sergiy Lysak, the governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said Russia “launched drones” at the eastern region.
One home was damaged and a fire broke out at a food establishment, but no injuries have been reported, he said on Telegram.
Ukraine’s air force said it downed 42 Russian attack drones in an overnight attack starting at 2am on Monday (11pm Irish time yesterday).
Shaky truce
The surprise 30-hour ceasefire was declared by Mr Putin on Saturday, who said it was motivated by “humanitarian reasons”.
Both sides accused each other of numerous violations, but also reported a fall in the intensity the fighting.
Mr Zelensky said Sunday the ceasefire had seen a halt to air attacks, but accused Russia of carrying out hundreds of front line raids.
Russia’s defence ministry in turn said it had “repelled” Ukrainian assaults and accused Kyiv of launching hundreds of drones and shells, causing civilian casualties.
But it too said the intensity of fire from the Ukrainian side had been “considerably reduced” across the entire front line during the truce.
AFP journalists in eastern Ukraine have heard fewer explosions than usual and saw no smoke on the horizon.
Mr Putin’s ceasefire declaration came after Mr Trump said Friday he would end Washington’s efforts to halt the war unless the two sides moved towards an accord.
On Sunday he expressed hopes the two sides could strike an agreement in the coming days, though did not elaborate on what he had in mind.
“Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week,” he said on his Truth Social platform.
Mr Trump had earlier tabled a ceasefire proposal, which was accepted by Ukraine but rebuffed by Russia.
China support
Mr Zelensky has repeatedly offered a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Mr Putin rejected following a call with Mr Trump last month.
The Ukrainian leader yesterday proposed a more limited agreement to halt “any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure” for at least 30 days.
China said it welcomed “all efforts” towards pausing the fighting.
“China is pleased to see all efforts that lead to a ceasefire, which is a necessary step towards peace,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
“We hope that all parties concerned will continue to resolve the crisis through dialogue and negotiations,” he added.
Ukraine last week accused China of supplying weapons to Russia and said that at least 155 Chinese nationals had been recruited to fight alongside Russia’s army.
China denied its citizens had been recruited en masse by Russia and urged Chinese nationals not to take part in armed conflict.
