Zelenskyy: Russia carried out 387 attacks and 19 assaults after Putin announced ‘ceasefire’

Syrskyi noted that one clash occurred in the Starobilsk operational zone, three more took place in the Donetsk operational zone — in the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka sectors — and one was reported in the Zaporizhzhya sector near the village of Stepove.

Russian forces also actively used first-person view drones, Syrskyi said.

There were additional artillery strikes and drone deployments by Russian troops in the Kursk direction, he added.

Between 6 p.m. on April 19 and midnight on April 20, Russian forces launched 387 attacks and 19 assault operations.

Of those, drones were used 290 times.

“Our soldiers are responding wherever necessary, and in a way the enemy deserves under specific battlefield conditions. Ukraine will continue to respond in kind,” Zelenskyy said.

“Overall, on this Easter morning we can state that the Russian army is trying to create an illusion of ceasefire while still making isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine,” Zelenskyy added.

Putin’s ‘Easter ceasefire’

Earlier, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ordered a halt to all combat operations from 6 p.m. on April 19 to midnight on April 21.

President Zelenskyy responded to the announcement by pointing out that as early as 5:15 p.m., Russian attack drones were detected over Ukrainian territory. He said this showed the dictator’s real attitude toward Easter and human life. Zelenskyy called Putin’s statement “another attempt to toy with people’s lives” and said Ukrainian air defenses and aircraft had already begun repelling the Russian strike.

Later, Zelenskyy said he was ready to agree to a ceasefire — but only if “complete silence truly prevails.” He said Ukraine would mirror Russian behavior and proposed extending the ceasefire beyond the Easter holiday if the battlefield remains quiet.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also commented on Putin’s so-called “Easter ceasefire,” emphasizing that Ukraine judges not words, but actions.

According to the latest reports, Russia has reduced its shelling in certain areas of the front. BBC reported that Ukrainian troops were ordered to cease fire minutes after Putin’s ceasefire declaration.