Half of Ukraine faced air raid sirens early on Monday morning as Russia bombarded the country with aerial attacks.
The first sirens sounded moments after the end of a 30-hour Easter truce, unilaterally declared by Vladimir Putin at the start of the weekend.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in reality, Russia continued striking throughout the so-called truce, attacking the country a total of 2,935 times, with the most shelling occurring around Pokrovsk.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for a long-term ceasefire, said he is hopeful Russia and Ukraine can come to a deal to end the war this week.
Ukraine’s leaders and the Russian President also paid tribute to Pope Francis, whose death was announced on Easter Monday.
Zelensky said the pontiff had “prayed for peace for Ukraine”, while Ukraine’s Prime Minister remembered the Pope for treating the country’s children at the Vatican’s hospital.
“We appreciate all that Pope Francis has done for our country,” Denys Shmyhal said.
Key Points
- Ukrainian President honours Pope Francis
- Zelensky blasts Putin for 3,000 strikes during Easter truce
- Trump hopes Russia and Ukraine will make peace deal this week
- Half of Ukraine under air raid alert after Russia's Easter truce ends
Starmer reiterates 'iron-clad' support for Ukraine
17:05 , Millie CookeSir Keir Starmer reiterated his "iron-clad support for Ukraine" during a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky this afternoon and updated the Ukrainian president on plans for a 'Coalition of the Willing'.
The prime minister, who also spoke to Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre this afternoon, told Mr Zelensky the UK "supports Ukraine’s calls for Russia to commit to a full ceasefire", as well as warning that "now is the time for Putin to show he is serious about ending his brutal war".
A Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky "discussed the latest developments on the Coalition of the Willing, and looked forward to further progress towards a just and lasting peace".
On his call with Mr Støre, the two leaders "agreed there can be no let-up in their support for Ukraine" and discussed "the importance of keeping up economic pressure on Russia to ensure they engage seriously in talks".
The pair also spoke about global trade in the wake of Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, agreeing that a "trade war is in nobody’s interests".
Putin says Russia has 'positive attitude" towards peace
16:00 , Rachel Clun, ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow has a “positive attitude” towards a peace deal with Ukraine.
The comments come after both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching Mr Putin’s 30-hour Easter truce, and amid pressure from the US to reach a ceasefire agreement in coming days.
"We always have a positive attitude towards a truce, which is why we came up with such an initiative, especially since we are talking about the bright Easter days," Putin told a state TV reporter, Pavel Zarubin.
"We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way," he added.
Ukraine deputy says coming days will show if Russia is just 'buying time'
15:29 , Rachel ClunUkraine’s first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the ball is in Russia’s court to show it is interested in peace.
“Regardless of the ongoing violations, Ukraine has proposed extending the suspension of long-range strikes on civilian infrastructure for 30 more days. The ball is now in Moscow’s court.
“The coming days will reveal whether the Kremlin is interested in peace—or just buying time.
“There is only one obstacle to a ceasefire: Russia. Evasion, delay, and dishonesty remain its tools. Peace requires pressure and oversight.”
Ukrainian deputy labels Russia's Easter Truce 'a PR tool'
14:59 , Rachel ClunUkraine’s first deputy prime minister has labelled Russia’s “Easter Truce” a “PR tool”.
Yulia Svyrydenko said the so-called truce was “an attempt to mask the Moscow regime in an image of rationality and conciliation, purely aimed at Western audiences.”
“But in action, Russians only reduced attacks, continuing assault operations across the front, violating the ceasefire 2,935 times and attacking Ukrainian positions 96 times,” she wrote on social media.”
Russia approves of US veto of Ukraine Nato membership
14:40 , Rachel Clun, ReutersThe Kremlin said news that the US has ruled out Nato membership for Ukraine gave satisfaction, but declined to comment on Donald Trump’s hopes for a peace deal to be worked out this week.
The US President has repeatedly said he wants to end the “bloodbath” of the three-year war in Ukraine, and America has acted as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine in peace talks.
Moscow is yet to agree to a substantial peace deal with Ukraine, and has said Ukraine’s hopes of joining Nato are a key issue.
On Sunday US Envoy General Keith Kellogg said Ukraine’s membership of the defence alliance was “off the table”, and Trump has previously blamed US support for the idea of Ukraine joining Nato as a cause of the war.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was one of the “root causes” of the war.
“We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine's membership in NATO is excluded," Mr Peskov told reporters on Monday.
"Of course, this is something that causes us satisfaction and coincides with our position."
Ukrainian PM mourns Pope Francis
14:19 , Rachel ClunUkraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he was saddened to hear about the death of Pope Francis, and praised his help during the war with Russia.
“We had more than one meeting with His Holiness in the Vatican. Under his leadership, the Holy See provided important humanitarian support to Ukraine and contributed to peace efforts,” he said on X.
“We are very grateful for the treatment of Ukrainian children in the Vatican hospital. We appreciate all that Pope Francis has done for our country.
“My deepest condolences to the Holy See and the entire Catholic community.”
Watch: Pope Francis calls for peace in Ukraine before death
14:02 , Rachel ClunPope Francis said “we were not born to kill” in an address before his death.
Russia claims Ukraine launched attacks during Russia's truce
13:32 , Rachel ClunRussia has claimed Ukraine launched 19 attacks on Russian positions during Vladimir Putin’s self-declared one-day Easter truce.
Russian state media Tass said Ukraine shelled Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia broke its own ceasefire nearly 3,000 times, and said the country would defend itself if attacked.
US remains committed to 'full and comprehensive ceasefire'
13:03 , Rachel Clun, APThe US Department of State said America was committed to a "full and comprehensive ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia.
The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of giving the false appearance of honouring a one-day Easter ceasefire, saying Moscow had continued to launch attacks overnight.
"As of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine," Mr Zelensky said in a post on X.
Sunday's State Department statement noted encouraging discussions in the past week in Paris about peace prospects in Ukraine, which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed in a call to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
In pictures: Easter in Ukraine as fighting continues
12:33 , Rachel ClunAttacks continued over the Easter weekend, despite a ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky honours Pope Francis
12:02 , Rachel ClunUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has paid tribute to the late Pope Francis.
“Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis’s passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church,” he wrote on X.
“He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians.
“We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory!”
Kremlin won't comment on hopes of a Russia-Ukraine deal this week
11:33 , Rachel Clun, ReutersA Kremlin spokesperson has declined to comment on US hopes that a ceasefire deal can be reached between Russia and Ukraine this week.
The spokesperson said Ukraine’s potential membership of Nato remains a key issue for Moscow, as Ukrainian membership of the defence alliance would be seen as a threat to Russia.
But the spokesperson said Russian President Vladimir Putin was open to finding a peaceful settlement with Ukraine.
Putin expresses condolences over death of Pope Francis
11:03 , Rachel ClunRussian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences over the death of Pope Francis.
According to the Kremlin, Mr Putin said he had the fondest memories of the Pope, and had communicated with him on many occasions.
The Pope had not been a supporter of the war in Ukraine, calling for a ceasefire and talks to end the conflict.
Analysis: Why Putin’s Easter ‘ceasefire’ is a dangerous distraction
10:33 , Rachel ClunWorld affairs editor Sam Kiley says the fact that both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of violating an Easter ceasefire doesn’t and shouldn’t matter:
Why Putin’s Easter ‘ceasefire’ is a dangerous distraction from his original sin
Zelensky says 'ceasefire will be met with ceasefire'
09:52 , Rachel ClunUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has been incapable of responding to the proposed 30-day ceasefire after Easter or a more limited ceasefire.
He said Russia conducted nearly 3,000 violations of its own ceasefire proposal on Easter.
“This day was not enough for Moscow to respond either to the proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire after Easter, or to the proposal to at least extend the ceasefire in the sky, refraining from missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure,” he wrote on X.
“The nature of Ukraine’s actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence. Actions always speak louder than words.”
What happened during the Easter truce?
09:11 , Shweta SharmaHours after Vladimir Putin made a surprise announcement of an "Easter truce", the Ukrainian president said there were multiple Russian attacks on Easter Sunday.
A pause was announced on all fighting from 4pm BST on Saturday until 10pm BST on Sunday.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he would agree to a pause and said his forces would "mirror" Russia's actions.
But just hours into the pause in fighting, Mr Zelensky began giving updates of the ceasefire violations in various parts of the country.
On Sunday, in his final update, he said the ceasefire was broken 2,935 times till midnight.
Russia's defence ministry also claimed Kyiv had launched drone attacks hundreds of times.
According to a Kyiv Independent report, three people have been confirmed killed so far, and at least seven injured, in Russian strikes during the country's supposed Easter "truce" with Ukraine, regional authorities said.
In Kherson Oblast, three people have been reported dead and the same number of people injured on Sunday, governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
Pope Francis dies on Easter Monday, Vatican confirms
09:09 , Shweta SharmaPope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, the Vatican said.
In a video statement, the Vatican confirmed his death.
"This morning at 7:35 a.m. (0535 GMT), the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in a statement published on the Vatican's Telegram channel.
The Pope had been suffering from serious health issues over the last 12 years of his papacy.
Russia says it has resumed fighting after Easter truce in Ukraine
08:39 , Shweta SharmaRussian forces on Monday resumed fighting in Ukraine after the Easter ceasefire declared by president Vladimir Putin, Russian news agencies reported, citing the defence ministry.
The defence ministry said Russia forces strictly observed the ceasefire and remained in their positions.
It came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky lashed out at Russia for breaching the ceasefire nearly 3,000 times in 30-hours.
Russian defence ministry accused Ukrainian forces of firing nearly 500 times and shelling civilian energy infrastructure.
US state department says it is committed to 'full and comprehensive ceasefire'
08:30 , Shweta SharmaThe US state department said on Sunday that America is committed to "a full and comprehensive ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia as Donald Trump is being accused of rushing a deal.
Sunday's statement noted encouraging discussions in the past week in Paris about peace prospects in Ukraine, which US secretary of state Marco Rubio conveyed in a call to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
The American statement came after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of creating a false appearance of honouring an Easter ceasefire.
He said Moscow continued to launch attacks overnight after Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral temporary truce in Ukraine.
"We remain committed to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire," the US State Department said, adding "it is long past time" to stop the conflict in Ukraine.
"As Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio told Foreign Minister [of Russia] Sergei Lavrov during their call on Thursday, he had encouraging discussions last week in Paris and peace is possible if all parties are committed," it added.
Russia has continued to reject US proposals for a ceasefire, reportedly because they do not concede to Russia’s full demands, and has called out Mr Trump for rushing a deal.
Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov previously said “we can’t accept them in their current form” even though they take Washington’s suggestions seriously.
Putin rebuffed Zelensky's offer to extend Easter truce – then started bombing
08:26 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky said he reiterated Ukraine's offer to turn Russia's Easter truce into a fuller, 30-day ceasefire starting at midnight on Sunday.
The Ukrainian president said yesterday that the proposal "remains on the table" and added: "We will act in accordance with the actual situation on the ground."
However, Russian president Vladimir Putin did not give the order to extend the truce, and instead launched at least 99 drones and missiles in the hours after it expired.
"There were no other commands," Russia's TASS state news agency cited Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying when asked whether the ceasefire could be prolonged.
The two sides have both accused each other of violating the 30-hour pause in fighting to mark Easter festivities.
Russia launches 99 drones and missiles in hours after Easter truce expires
07:51 , Shweta SharmaRussia launched 96 drones and three missiles in overnight attacks targeting Ukraine, causing damage in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Cherkasy regions, Ukraine's air force said on Monday.
The new wave of attacks began minutes after a 30-hour Easter truce declared by Moscow came to an end at midnight.
In truth, fighting continued throughout various parts of the country as Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia breached its ceasefire almost 3,000 times. Kyiv also continued to target Russian military positions, the Kremlin said.
Air defence units shot down 42 Russian drones, and another 47 drones were redirected by electronic warfare, the Ukrainian air force said in a post on Telegram. It gave no details on the missiles.
Three killed in Russian strikes across Ukraine during Easter 'truce'
07:34 , Shweta SharmaThree people have been confirmed killed so far, and at least seven injured, in Russian strikes during the country's supposed Easter "truce" with Ukraine, regional authorities said on Monday.
In Kherson Oblast, three people have been reported dead and the same number of people injured on Sunday, governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
Four people were injured in Donetsk Oblast in Russian strikes on the same day, when Russia's unilateral ceasefire was supposed to still be in place, governor Vadym Filashkin said.
A drone attack on the Kivsharivka village near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast struck a residential building, sparking a huge fire. At least 36 apartments were gutted in the fire, governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Ukraine said the 30-hour Easter ceasefire was breached by Russia nearly 3,000 times. Moscow blamed Kyiv for striking its own troops hundreds of times during the truce – which was not discussed or agreed with Ukraine beforehand.
Russia launches missiles and drones at multiple regions of Ukraine as truce expires
07:00 , Shweta SharmaRussia bombarded Ukrainian territories with drones and missiles just minutes after the Easter truce ended at midnight, waking up Kyiv and the eastern half of the country to the sound of sirens.
Air raid sirens were sounded in capital Kyiv as well as Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia.
Officials in the port city of Mykolaiv said that it had been hit by Russian missiles.
The Kremlin on Monday said the 30-hour easter truce announced from 6pm on 19 April to 21 April midnight had expired.
Ukraine has accused Russia of continuing to carry out thousands of attacks, even during its self-declared ceasefire.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damages from the attacks, regional Ukrainian officials said on social media as the scale of the bombardment was being ascertained.
Emotional reunion as hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners released
06:45 , Shweta SharmaDozens of released Ukrainian prisoners of war embraced loved ones in emotional reunions after they were returned from Russian captivity.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said 277 Ukrainian soldiers were returned in the war's largest exchange on Saturday (19 April).
Most Ukrainians were young people born after 2000, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said.
Since Russia's invasion began, a total of 4,552 Ukrainians, both military and civilians, have been returned.
Thousands of prisoners of war remain in captivity.
Saturday's exchange was the 63rd since the start of the war.
Russia says Ukraine used US-made HIMARS systems to violate Easter truce
06:26 , Shweta SharmaRussian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Ukraine used US-made HIMARS MLRS systems to violate the Easter truce.
"It (the ceasefire) was not observed by the Kiev regime during Easter. Notably, the used American weapons, HIMARS systems, to violate it," she wrote on her Telegram channel.
She said Ukraine struck civilian energy infrastructure during the moratorium, which was expected by the Russian government.
The Russian defence ministry said it repelled attacks by Ukrainian armed forces on Russian troops near Sukha Balka and Bogatyr in the Donetsk People’s Republic at night.
It said Ukrainian forces used 48 UAVs, including one on the territory of Crimea, firing 444 times.
America’s HIMARS system stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. It's a highly mobile rocket launcher system developed by the United States and manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
Pictures: Ukrainians gather together to mark Easter amid war
06:04 , Shweta SharmaUkrainians gathered together to mark Easter, with little faith in the possibility of a ceasefire with Russia as both sides accused the other of breaking a temporary truce.
In the village of Lukashivka in the Chernihiv region, briefly occupied by Russian forces in 2022, parishioners of the damaged Ascension Church arrived early at a small makeshift wooden church built last year to cater to the needs of the faithful, holding traditional Easter baskets and cakes to have them blessed.
As the sun rose, they stood quietly in the spring chill, the roofless silhouette of the wrecked church behind them, its pale walls scarred by shell fragments. The church's priest Serhii Zezul walked among them, shouting “Christ is risen!” as he sprinkled holy water over the baskets – his voice nearly drowned out by the hum of a nearby generator.
More people than usual gathered in the damaged church’s courtyard on Sunday.
For 26 years, 44-year-old Olha Rudeno attended church in the nearby city of Chernihiv, where she got married. “But given the war, it's psychologically difficult for me to go where there are large gatherings in cities,” she said.
Why Putin’s Easter ‘ceasefire’ is a dangerous distraction from his original sin
05:43Vladimir Putin’s “unilateral” ceasefire declaration – a bid to use Easter as a propaganda tool – was a deliberate waste of time intended to shift attention away from the Russian president’s original sin.
That sin – better understood as an international crime that led to more crimes against humanity – was the 2014 invasion of Ukraine, and the 2022 attempt at a full-scale Anschluss, along with the mass murder and deliberate targeting of civilians that followed.
Of course, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, has been quick to point out that Putin immediately ignored his own declaration.
“The total number of violations by the Russian army of Russia’s own ceasefire promise throughout the day [Sunday] reached 2,935,” Zelensky said.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley explains.
Why Putin’s Easter ‘ceasefire’ is a dangerous distraction from his original sin
Moscow court finds Google guilty of disclosing Russian war casualties
05:21 , Shweta SharmaA Moscow court has found Google guilty of disclosing personal data of members of the Russian armed forces who died in Ukraine, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Monday, citing court documents.
The documents say that in a video published on YouTube, information on Russia's losses in Ukraine, as well as the personal data of Russian soldiers, were disclosed.
Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content it deems illegal, such as what it calls "fake" news about the war in Ukraine, issuing small but persistent fines when it sees failures to comply.
Russia's president Vladimir Putin accused Google in December of being a tool used by the US government to score political points.
Air raid alerts across Ukraine after midnight
04:58 , Shweta SharmaSome regions in eastern Ukraine were under air raid alerts starting minutes after midnight on Monday, according to data from the Ukrainian air force, with the alerts gradually extending towards the central regions of the country.
"We urge city residents to immediately go to the nearest shelters and remain there until the alert is over," Kyiv's military administration said in a social media post at 4.41am local time (0141 GMT).
Blasts shook the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv, mayor Oleksandr Senkevich said on Telegram. He did not say whether it was air defence systems in operation or whether the Russian weapons hit their targets.
Russia's Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine, was also under air raid alerts for two hours overnight, the region’s governor said on Telegram.
Zelensky blasts Putin for 3,000 strikes during Easter truce
04:48 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky issued an updated number of Russian strikes carried out during Moscow's own Easter truce, including against civilian targets.
“The total number of violations by the Russian army of Russia’s own ceasefire promise throughout the day reached 2,935. The highest number of shellings and assaults occurred in the Pokrovsk direction,” he said.
A report by Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi as of 12:00 a.m., following the end of Easter.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 20, 2025
The total number of violations by the Russian army of Russia’s own ceasefire promise throughout the day reached 2,935. The highest number of shellings and assaults occurred in the Pokrovsk…
“Russia’s promise of a full ceasefire also did not apply to the Kursk direction. Overall, across the frontline, there were 96 Russian assaults, 1,882 instances of shelling on our positions, including 812 involving heavy weaponry, and over 950 instances of FPV drone use by Russian forces,” he added.
He said ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence going forward.
Trump's push for peace in Ukraine
04:40 , Shweta SharmaUS president Donald Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly warned of the escalation risk of the war – which his administration now casts as a proxy conflict between the US and Russia, echoing Moscow's stance.
Last month, after Ukraine accepted Mr Trump's proposal for a 30-day truce, Russian president Vladimir Putin said crucial issues of verification had not been sorted out. Both Moscow and Kyiv have agreed to a moratorium on attacks on energy targets and at sea, which each accuses the other of breaking.
In a Truth Social post, he has said he hopes Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week to end the conflict in Ukraine.
"BOTH WILL THEN START TO DO BIG BUSINESS WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IS THRIVING, AND MAKE A FORTUNE!" he said in a post on Truth Social.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that Kyiv was willing to extend the Easter ceasefire for 30 days.
Russia controls just under one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Half of Ukraine under air raid alert after Russia's Easter truce ends
04:33 , Shweta SharmaUkraine's air force issued air raid alerts for Kyiv and the eastern half of Ukraine early on Monday, hours after the end of the one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Blasts have hit the eastern city of Mykolaiv as the sirens rang, the city mayor said.
The strikes marked an end to the 30-hour unilateral truce declared by Russia, even as Mr Putin’s forces were accused of violating the ceasefire.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s violation of its “own ceasefire promise throughout the day reached 2,935.
Russia’s defence ministry responded that Ukraine was not adhering to the ceasefire and continued shelling at Russian targets.
