The much-touted Easter truce confirmed by the Kremlin has now expired unsuccessfully as Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire in their four-year war.
While the Russian defence ministry said it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations overnight into Sunday, Ukraine said it has recorded a total of 7,696 Russian violations over the course of the truce in an update just few hours shy of the midnight deadline.
Both sides continued to report what they described as violations of the ceasefire throughout the day on Sunday. The truce was due to end at midnight (2100 GMT).
The latest report by the Ukrainian General Staff said the 7,696 Russian violations included 1,355 artillery shelling incidents, 115 assault operations and 6,226 strikes by attack drones. It said no air strikes had been recorded.
This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition pro-EU Tisza party, on his victory in the Hungarian election against the incumbent pro-Kremlin leader Viktor Orban. Zelensky has pledged to work with the new leader to strengthen Europe and uphold peace and security.
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Key Points
- Easter truce expires as Russia and Ukraine trade accusations of ceasefire violations
- Watch: Trump slams Nato, says US spent ‘trillions’ guarding against Russia
- Ukraine confirms identity of nearly 209,000 Russians killed in war – report
- How Hungary’s election could bring about a third term for Donald Trump
- How has Europe reacted to Kremlin-ally Orban's defeat in Hungary
- British ex-policeman stripped of citizenship over links with Russia
'Europe's heart beating stronger' as Orban loses critical election
09:35 , Arpan RaiHungary's opposition centre-right Tisza party appeared on track to win Sunday's national election, partial results showed, ending 16 years of rule by prime minister Viktor Orban, a nationalist backed by US president Donald Trump and Russia.
Here’s how Hungary and other European nations have reacted to the election result:
Peter Magyar, Leader of Hungary’s opposition Tisza party
"As we promised, as we hoped, today, on 12 April, 2026, Hungary and several million people made history again, exactly 23 years to the day after there was a referendum on joining the European Union in Hungary."
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban
"The election results are not final yet but the situation is understandable and clear. The election result is painful for us, but clear. The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us. I have congratulated the winner."
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky
"Ukraine has always sought good-neighbourly relations with everyone in Europe and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary. Europe and every European nation must get stronger, and millions of Europeans seek cooperation and stability. We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe."
Ursula Von Der Leyen, president of the EU commission
"Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger... Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight."
EU breathes a sigh of relief as Orban loses critical election
09:05 , Arpan RaiHungary's Viktor Orbán had such an outsize global influence that his crushing electoral defeat is resounding far and wide.
During his 16 years in power, admirers emulated Orbán's playbook for reshaping political institutions to his advantage and squeezing minority rights and media freedoms, and viewed him as a defender of national sovereignty in the face of globalisation and migration.
To his detractors, he was a threat to European democracy and the continent's hard-fought values of human rights and rule of law.
Orbán was especially and constantly critical of the EU, even though his country enjoys billions in funding from the bloc.
Within minutes of his concession speech, European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen, a frequent target of Orbán's pronouncements, posted on X: "Europe's heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight.
Europe's biggest powers also jumped in.
British prime minister Keir Starmer called it "an historic moment, not only for Hungary, but for European democracy. I look forward to working with you for the security and prosperity of both our countries."
German chancellor Friedrich Merz messaged Magyar: ''Let's join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe. Gratulálok, kedves Magyar Péter! (Congratulations, dear Magyar Peter!)"
French president Emmanuel Macron said that "France welcomes the victory of democratic participation, the Hungarian people's commitment to the values of the European Union, and Hungary's commitment to Europe."
Easter truce expires as Russia and Ukraine trade accusations of ceasefire violations
08:35 , Arpan RaiRussia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire in their four-year war, reporting more than a thousand drone and shelling attacks just hours after the truce began on Saturday to mark Orthodox Easter.
The Russian defence ministry said it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations overnight into Sunday.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military, in a late evening report issued as the end of the truce was approaching, said it had compiled a total of 7,696 Russian violations over the course of the truce.
Both sides continued to report what they described as violations of the ceasefire throughout the day on Sunday. The truce was due to end at midnight (2100 GMT).
The latest report by the Ukrainian General Staff said the 7,696 Russian violations noted over the course of the truce included 1,355 artillery shelling incidents, 115 assault operations and 6,226 strikes by attack drones. It said no air strikes had been recorded.
According to the calendar of the Orthodox faith dominant in both countries, Easter is celebrated this year on Sunday.
Zelensky congratulates Hungary's Magyar on election victory
08:05 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition pro-EU Tisza party, on his victory in the Hungarian election and pledged to work with him to strengthen Europe and uphold peace and security.
"It is important when a constructive approach is victorious," Zelensky said on Telegram.
"We are ready to meet and for joint constructive work for the benefit of both our peoples and also for the sake of peace, security and stability in Europe," he said.
Zelensky calls on Russia to continue ceasefire after Easter
07:35 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine would stick to the truce and called on Russia to keep it going beyond Orthodox Easter.
He made no reference to alleged ceasefire violations in his nightly video address.
The truce ended at midnight per Moscow time.
"It would be right for the ceasefire to continue beyond this," Zelensky said.
"We have made this proposal to Russia and if Russia once again chooses war instead of peace, it will show the world, and particularly the United States, who truly wants what."
Zelensky has proposed a halt to fighting on a number of occasions, but has been turned down by Moscow, which claims it is seeking an overall settlement. Critics say Vladimir Putin is attempting to seize as much territory as possible before any peace deal that would freeze the frontlines where they stand.
Poland to upgrade ties with South Korea
07:00 , Arpan RaiSouth Korean president Lee Jae Myung and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk agreed to upgrade ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with the leaders placing defence cooperation at the centre of the relationship.
South Korea has become one of Poland's leading arms suppliers in recent years as Warsaw moves to rapidly modernise its military following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In remarks made before talks between the leaders at the presidential Blue House this morning, Lee said the countries would further expand defence industry cooperation under a $44.2bn framework pact signed in 2022.
"K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light-attack aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers — bearing South Korea's technology and pride — are now safeguarding Poland’s territory and its people across its vast lands," Lee said.
The South Korean leader said that the partnership extended beyond arms sales to include joint production, technology transfers and training.
Tusk described South Korea as Poland's "most important ally after the United States, especially in the defence industry" and said he would personally oversee expanded defence cooperation between the countries.
Watch: Trump slams Nato, says US spent ‘trillions’ guarding against Russia
06:11 , Arpan RaiHow Hungary’s election could bring about a third term for Donald Trump
05:27 , Arpan RaiSeldom has Europe seen an election quite like this. As Hungary heads to the polls today not only are Moscow and Washington on the same side but they are throwing the kitchen sink at securing their man Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule an extension.
Never before has a US vice-president campaigned for one side like JD Vance has just in Budapest. Nor for a while have we seen Vladimir Putin issue such a flurry of promises and concessions amid an intense disinformation campaign and reports of Russian agents operating on Hungarian soil. They are doing this because Orbán matters to the cause they both share: keeping the European Union divided and proving that right-wing semi-authoritarianism can thrive.
Viktor Orbán's importance to the White House underlines an old truth. Nations don’t simply exert influence through their armies or their economies. Nations with a strong ideology can exert their own particular appeal and importance to superpowers and intellectuals alike.
How Hungary’s election could bring about a third term for Donald Trump
How has Europe reacted to Kremlin-ally Orban's defeat in Hungary
05:10 , Arpan RaiHungary's opposition centre-right Tisza party appeared on track to win Sunday's national election, partial results showed, ending 16 years of rule by prime minister Viktor Orban, a nationalist backed by US president Donald Trump and Russia.
Here’s how Hungary and other European nations have reacted to the election result:
Peter Magyar, Leader of Hungary’s opposition Tisza party
"As we promised, as we hoped, today, on 12 April, 2026, Hungary and several million people made history again, exactly 23 years to the day after there was a referendum on joining the European Union in Hungary."
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban
"The election results are not final yet but the situation is understandable and clear. The election result is painful for us, but clear. The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us. I have congratulated the winner."
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky
"Ukraine has always sought good-neighbourly relations with everyone in Europe and we are ready to advance our cooperation with Hungary. Europe and every European nation must get stronger, and millions of Europeans seek cooperation and stability. We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe."
Ursula Von Der Leyen, president of the EU commission
"Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger... Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight."
British ex-policeman stripped of citizenship over links with Russia
04:39 , Arpan RaiA former policeman has been stripped of his British citizenship over ties to Russia, the Home Secretary has announced.
Mark Bullen, 45, will no longer be a British national based on information which will not be made public “in the interest of national security”, said Shabana Mahmood.
“You are being deprived of your UK nationality on the ground that to do is conducive to the public good,” she said in the deprivation of citizenship order which was made in October last year.
She did not disclose further details but the action taken by the home secretary is normally linked with alleged terrorists and dangerous gangsters,
He is now living in Russia after achieving his “lifelong dream” of a Russian passport in 2022 and denies any wrongdoing.
He was working at the Hertfordshire Constabulary for more than a decade and was previously detained at Luton airport in November 2024.
The officers had seized his electronic devices and asked whether he had any knowledge about the 2018 Salisbury poisonings.
Ukraine confirms nearly 209,000 Russians killed in war – report
04:22 , Arpan RaiThe identities of at least 208,755 Russian soldiers have now been confirmed, a new investigation by Russia’s Mediazona and BBC Russian service showed.
A fresh list of 2,553 Russian soldiers has been added to a running list of casualties in a new update in late March.
The confirmed death toll now includes over 76,300 volunteers, 23,400 recruited prisoners, and 18,400 mobilised soldiers, the report said.
A total of 7,003 officers have also been confirmed to have been killed.
The actual figures of casualties suffered by Moscow is likely significantly higher, the media outlet noted.
Easter truce expires as Russia and Ukraine trade accusations of ceasefire violations
04:10 , Arpan RaiRussia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire in their four-year war, reporting more than a thousand drone and shelling attacks just hours after the truce began on Saturday to mark Orthodox Easter.
The Russian defence ministry said it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations overnight into Sunday.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military, in a late evening report issued as the end of the truce was approaching, said it had compiled a total of 7,696 Russian violations over the course of the truce.
Both sides continued to report what they described as violations of the ceasefire throughout the day on Sunday. The truce was due to end at midnight (2100 GMT).
The latest report by the Ukrainian General Staff said the 7,696 Russian violations noted over the course of the truce included 1,355 artillery shelling incidents, 115 assault operations and 6,226 strikes by attack drones. It said no air strikes had been recorded.
According to the calendar of the Orthodox faith dominant in both countries, Easter is celebrated this year on Sunday.
Zelensky congratulates Hungary's Magyar on election victory
03:46 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Peter Magyar, leader of the opposition pro-EU Tisza party, on his victory in the Hungarian election and pledged to work with him to strengthen Europe and uphold peace and security.
"It is important when a constructive approach is victorious," Zelensky said on Telegram.
"We are ready to meet and for joint constructive work for the benefit of both our peoples and also for the sake of peace, security and stability in Europe," he said.
Inside Ukraine’s conscription crisis as two million dodge the draft
02:00 , Holly EvansUkraine is facing a major conscription crisis, just as Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that a protracted conflict in the Middle East will hamper its efforts to combat Russia’s invasion.
Earlier this year, Ukraine’s defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, admitted that Ukraine has 2 million draft-dodgers and hundreds of thousands more who are absent without leave (awol).
The Independent has spoken to Ukrainians on the ground about the reality of the situation, just as pressure mounts elsewhere for the war-torn country. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has shifted its focus from Ukraine to the conflict with Iran, while peace talks have stalled, and Vladimir Putin has launched his spring offensive.
Read the full article here:
Inside Ukraine’s conscription crisis as two million dodge the draft
Zelensky calls on Russia to continue ceasefire after Easter
01:00 , Holly EvansVolodymyr Zelensky made no reference to alleged ceasefire violations in his nightly video address.
He said Ukraine would stick to the truce and called on Russia to keep it going beyond Orthodox Easter.
As things stand, the truce will end at midnight tonight, Moscow time.
"It would be right for the ceasefire to continue beyond this," Zelensky said.
"We have made this proposal to Russia and if Russia once again chooses war instead of peace, it will show the world, and particularly the United States, who truly wants what."
Zelensky has proposed a halt to fighting on a number of occasions, but has been turned down by Moscow, which claims it is seeking an overall settlement. Critics say Vladimir Putin is attempting to seize as much territory as possible before any peace deal that would freeze the frontlines where they stand.
US is ignoring evidence Russia is helping Iran because it trusts Putin, says Zelensky
Sunday 12 April 2026 23:00 , Holly EvansFarmers are planning fuel protests in England after the Iran war has sent fuel prices soaring to £2 per litre, it has been reported.
Ireland has already faced nationwide fuel protests from farming organisations this week over soaring petrol and diesel prices, which have caused significant disruption and threats to critical supplies throughout the country.
Now farming organisations in the UK are set to meet next week to discuss nationwide demonstrations in Britain, according to reports in The Telegraph.
Read the full article here now:
Warnings of UK fuel protests as Iran war sends price of diesel past £2 a litre
Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Orthodox Easter ceasefire
Sunday 12 April 2026 22:00 , Holly EvansRussia and Ukraine accused each other Sunday of violating a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire that took effect less than 24 hours earlier.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. on Saturday until the end of Sunday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to abide by the ceasefire, but warned there would be a swift military response to any violations.
Read the full article here:
Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Orthodox Easter ceasefire
Analysis: By rearming Britain we can wipe the smirk off Putin’s face
Sunday 12 April 2026 21:00 , Holly EvansWhat, it should be asked, does Vladimir Putin see when he peers across at the British armed forces? It cannot be claimed that they fill him with dread. All agree – and it is not unpatriotic, or disrespectful to service personnel, to say so – that for all the professionalism and bravery of HM Forces, their capacity has been “hollowed out” over a very long time. Britain is vulnerable. It has been for years.
Long after the post-Cold War “peace dividend” had ceased, and Russia’s rampant revanchism became clear, the British government clung to the convenient pretence that Russia could still be deterred, and that, in any case, Nato and the US security guarantee would forever protect our continent.
As a result, our forces are understaffed, and equipment needs replacing. But the time to make a start in such investment was about a decade ago, when David Cameron was still running his austerity-driven government.
Read the full editorial here:
By rearming Britain we can wipe the smirk off Putin’s face
Kremlin claims Russia has 17-18% of Donetsk region left to bring under its control
Sunday 12 April 2026 20:00 , Holly EvansKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that Russian troops still need to take control of 17 per cent –18 per cent of Ukraine’s disputed Donetsk region, state news agency TASS reported.
Russian forces will continue fighting in Ukraine after the Orthodox Easter truce ends later on Sunday, Peskov said.
Hungarians vote in record numbers in election that could rattle Russia
Sunday 12 April 2026 19:00 , Holly EvansHungarians were voting on Sunday in an election that could end Prime Minister Viktor Orban's 16-year hold on power, rattle Russia and send shockwaves through right-wing circles across the West, including U.S. President Donald Trump's White House.
The vote is being closely watched in Brussels, with many EU peers criticising Orban, who has kept close ties with Russia and is a Trump ally, over what they say is an erosion of Hungary's democratic rule, media freedom and minority rights.
An Orban defeat would deprive Russia of its closest ally in the EU, while for Ukraine it could mean the release of a 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) EU loan vital for its war effort that the Hungarian leader has been blocking.
Russia ready to supply gas to the EU if it has a surplus, TASS reports
Sunday 12 April 2026 17:30 , Holly EvansRussia is ready to continue supplying gas to the European Union if there are volumes remaining after supplies to alternative markets, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Sunday.
"There is plenty of it for now. But alternative markets are very voracious, there are a great many requests for supplies," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying.
However, Europe will find a way to buy gas even if Russia does not supply it, Peskov said.
"There are so many gas liquefaction plants, both in Europe and in the Middle East, that this process, this spot market, functions like a living organism," Peskov added.
Zelensky spends Easter visiting children who had lost parents in the war
Sunday 12 April 2026 16:30 , Holly EvansUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena spent Sunday visiting children who has lost parents fighting in the war.
"They greeted us with smiles that are priceless. We must do everything so that the children of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Ukraine never lose faith in the world," Zelenskyy wrote in an online post.
Russia, Ukraine trade accusations of Orthodox Easter ceasefire violations
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:15 , Sam RkainaRussia and Ukraine accused each other on Sunday of breaching the 32-hour ceasefire in their four-year war, reporting more than a thousand drone and shelling attacks just hours after the truce began on Saturday to mark Orthodox Easter.
The Russian defence ministry said it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations overnight into Sunday, while Ukraine's general staff reported 479 shelling attacks and more than 1,700 drone strikes by Russian troops.
According to the calendar of the Orthodox faith dominant in both countries, Easter is celebrated this year on Sunday.
Orthodox Christians gather to celebrate Easter despite ceasefire doubts
Sunday 12 April 2026 13:30 , Adam WithnallMany Orthodox Christians have gathered throughout today in Ukraine to celebrate Easter, despite scepticism that a truce announced by Vladimir Putin would be observed.
Outside Kyiv, thousands gathered at an open-air national heritage park, according to AP.
Worshippers clustered outside wooden churches to take part in the annual blessing of baskets for the holiday table.
Families carried dyed eggs and paska cakes baked the night before, while many women wore colourful scarves. Some waited for the blessing as others picnicked on the grass.
Irena Bulhakova expressed her doubts over prospects for peace, especially as previous attempts to secure ceasefires have had little or no impact. "Every time a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless," she told the news agency.
But she still reflected on the holiday's meaning: "Good triumphs over darkness, and we hope for that very much."
Russia says it will resume fighting as soon as Easter truce ends
Sunday 12 April 2026 12:30 , Adam WithnallRussia has rejected Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal to extend an Easter ceasefire, saying it plans to resume fighting as soon as the truce ends at midnight tonight.
Both sides have in any case accused each other of widespread ceasefire violations, with Ukraine saying Russia has carried out 1,700 drone strikes alone during the supposed truce period.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday that the truce was a "humanitarian gesture" from Russian president Vladimir Putin, but that Russian troops would resume fighting as soon as it ends.
“Putin has instructed the Russian military to remain on high alert in case of provocations,” he said.
In pictures: Orthodox Christians observe Easter under shadow of war in Bucha
Sunday 12 April 2026 11:30 , Adam WithnallUkraine and Russia are observing Orthodox Easter today, with both countries saying they would honour a brief ceasefire – though thousands of violations have been reported.
Russia claims Ukraine has violated Easter truce almost 2,000 times
Sunday 12 April 2026 10:37 , Adam WithnallRussia and Ukraine both now accuse each other of violating an Easter ceasefire hundreds – if not thousands – of times.
Earlier we reported that the Ukrainian military said it had recorded 2,299 ceasefire violations as of 7am local time on Sunday morning. The ceasefire began at 4pm Moscow time on Saturday.
Now, Russia's defence ministry says it has recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces, including drone strikes on Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions that injured civilians.
It echoes scenes from Orthodox Easter last year, when a similar ceasefire was marred by accusations of hundreds of violations.
Kyiv says Moscow has violated Easter ceasefire 2,299 times
Sunday 12 April 2026 09:46 , Adam WithnallUkraine's military says Russian forces have broken the Easter ceasefire 2,299 times since 4pm on Saturday, when Russian president Vladimir Putin said Russia would begin observing a 32-hour truce.
The Ukrainian general staff said the ceasefire breaches included 479 instances of shelling and more than 1,700 drone strikes, with 1,723 of the breaches occurring on Saturday.
Ukraine and Russia exchange 175 prisoners of war each
Sunday 12 April 2026 09:15 , Adam WithnallUkraine and Russia exchanged 175 prisoners of war each yesterday ahead of the start of an Orthodox Easter ceasefire that has been marred by allegations of violations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine had brought home 175 servicemen and seven civilians from Russian captivity.
He said the Ukrainian servicemen had defended the country on different fronts from the east to the south and most of them had been in captivity in Russia since 2022.
Russia's defence ministry said the United Arab Emirates had mediated the exchange.
TV footage showed returning Ukrainians arriving in a bus to a rousing welcome from relatives, many carrying photos of prisoners of war, some yet to be released. Some had difficulty walking and were transported by ambulance.
Andrii Yusov, a Ukrainian defence intelligence representative, said 163 of those freed had been held since 2022.
"This is a real success, a very significant achievement," Yusov said. "It is very hard to imagine what these people have been through during that time and you can see that the men are returning in varying conditions."
Voting underway in European election that has big implications for Ukraine
Sunday 12 April 2026 08:30 , Adam WithnallHungarians are casting their ballots after polls opened in what is widely seen as Europe's most consequential election this year, a vote that could end the 16-year rule of prime minister Viktor Orbán, a nationalist who has cosied up to both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Orbán has heavily strained Hungary's relationship with the EU, seeming to revel in using his veto power to stymie the 27-member bloc's important decisions. Most recently, he blocked a 90-billion euro ($104 billion) EU loan to Ukraine, prompting his partners to accuse him of hijacking the critical aid.
Yet after winning four consecutive elections with a two-thirds majority for his party in Parliament, signs have emerged that Orbán's absolute control over Hungary's politics may be reaching its end.
Follow our live coverage of that election here:
Hungary elections live: Orban fights to remain in power as voters take to polls
Zelensky calls on Russia to continue ceasefire after Easter
Sunday 12 April 2026 07:31 , Adam WithnallVolodymyr Zelensky made no reference to alleged ceasefire violations in his nightly video address.
He said Ukraine would stick to the truce and called on Russia to keep it going beyond Orthodox Easter.
As things stand, the truce will end at midnight tonight, Moscow time.
"It would be right for the ceasefire to continue beyond this," Zelensky said.
"We have made this proposal to Russia and if Russia once again chooses war instead of peace, it will show the world, and particularly the United States, who truly wants what."
Zelensky has proposed a halt to fighting on a number of occasions, but has been turned down by Moscow, which claims it is seeking an overall settlement. Critics say Vladimir Putin is attempting to seize as much territory as possible before any peace deal that would freeze the frontlines where they stand.
Ukraine says Russia has violated Easter ceasefire 469 times
Sunday 12 April 2026 06:50 , Adam WithnallThe Ukrainian General Staff said in a late evening report on Saturday night that it had counted 469 Russian ceasefire infringements since the truce came into force at 4pm Moscow time.
“Specifically, 22 enemy assault actions, 153 shelling incidents, 19 strikes by attack drones ... and 275 strikes by (First-Person View) drones,” it said as part of an update on the frontline situation.
According to the calendar of the Orthodox faith, which is dominant in both Russia and Ukraine, Easter is celebrated this year on Sunday 12 April.
During a similar 30-hour Easter ceasefire agreed last year, each side accused the other of infringements.
Russian drone strikes ambulance in Sumy, injuring three paramedics
Sunday 12 April 2026 06:46 , Adam WithnallUkrainian officials say a Russian drone struck an ambulance in Sumy Oblast overnight, injuring three paramedics – one of hundreds of alleged ceasefire violations.
Vladimir Putin said his forces would observe a truce for Orthodox Easter from 4pm on Saturday to the end of Sunday, but both sides have accused each other of breaching it.
Sumy Oblast is in northeastern Ukraine, and is one of a number of border regions that have faced sustained ground and air attacks throughout the war, though Russia holds no significant territory there.
The region’s military administration issued an update on the strike which read: “Three medics were injured. They were promptly provided with assistance,” according to the Kyiv Independent.
“The enemy cynically continues to attack civilian infrastructure. Be as cautious as possible,” it warned.
The Ukrainian military says Russia has already violated the Easter ceasefire 469 times since it began. Neither Volodymyr Zelensky nor the Kremlin have commented on the alleged violations.
Russia claims five injured by Ukrainian drone strikes during truce
Sunday 12 April 2026 05:57 , Adam WithnallWith both sides accusing each other of violating the Easter truce, which began at 4pm Moscow time on Saturday, governors of two Russian regions said Ukrainian drone strikes had injured people.
Alexander Khinshtein, governor of Russia's Kursk border region, wrote on the state-backed messenger service MAX that a Ukrainian drone had struck a petrol station in the town of Lgov, injuring three people, including a child.
Khinshtein said the attack took place after the start of the truce.
In the adjacent Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said two people were injured in Ukrainian drone attacks.
Gladkov, writing on Telegram, said a man and woman were injured in attacks in Shebekino and Grayvoron, two small towns just inside the border. He also said Ukrainian forces had shelled Shebekino, damaging homes and other buildings.
A local Russia-installed official in a part of southern Kherson region held by Moscow also reported on social media that a Ukrainian drone attack had injured one person.
Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating Easter truce
Sunday 12 April 2026 04:45 , Adam WithnallRussia and Ukraine on yesterday accused each other of violating a brief ceasefire in their four-year-old war hours into the truce put in place to mark Orthodox Easter.
The General Staff of Ukraine's military said Russian forces had violated the terms of the 32-hour truce 469 times, including assault actions, shelling and drone strikes.
Governors of two Russian border regions said Ukrainian drones had attacked targets in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, injuring five people.
The ceasefire, announced by Russian president Vladimir Putin on Thursday, went into effect at 4pm Moscow time (1300 GMT). Ukraine had initially proposed the truce and said it would observe it if Russia did so too.
Russia and Ukraine move towards potential peace deal, Bloomberg reports
Sunday 12 April 2026 03:00 , Alex CroftUkraine and Russia are moving towards a potential deal to end the war, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing the top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kyrylo Budanov, a former head of Ukraine's military intelligence, said that he saw progress towards a deal, but declined to say what a potential compromise on territory, a key stumbling block, would look like.
"No final decision has been made yet," he said, according to the report. "But, in principle, everyone now clearly understands the limits of what is acceptable. That’s enormous progress."
"They all understand the war needs to end. That’s why they are negotiating,” Budanov said in an interview with Bloomberg on April 4. “I don’t think it will be long.”
Healey tells Putin: ‘We're watching you. We're exposing you’
Sunday 12 April 2026 02:00 , Alex CroftEstonia says it won't detain Russia's shadow fleet for fear of military response
Sunday 12 April 2026 01:01 , Alex CroftNato member Estonia says it cannot afford to detain Russia's "shadow fleet" vessels in the Baltic Sea and risk the chance Moscow will respond with military force.
Britain and other European nations, including France, Belgium and Sweden, have stepped up efforts to detain ageing oil tankers used by Moscow to evade sanctions and secure vital funding for its four-year war against Ukraine.
But Estonia, the northernmost Baltic state located close to Russia's main oil and fuel export facilities in the Gulf of Finland, is practising restraint after an unsuccessful attempt to board a Russian vessel last year.
"The risk of military escalation is just too high," Estonia's Navy Commander Ivo Vark told Reuters.
In May 2025 Estonia said Moscow sent a fighter jet into Nato airspace over the Baltic Sea during an Estonian attempt to stop an unflagged Russia-bound oil tanker it believed was defying Western sanctions.
The jet eventually escorted the oil tanker into Russian waters.
In pictures: Damage after Russian drone attack on Odesa
Sunday 12 April 2026 00:01 , Alex Croft
Russian investigative journalist placed in pre-trial detention
Saturday 11 April 2026 23:00 , Alex CroftA Russian court has ordered the detention of Oleg Roldugin, an investigative journalist for independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, following his arrest a day earlier.
Roldugin was arrested on Thursday in a case involving alleged misuse of personal data following a search of his home and a raid by masked security agents on the offices of Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's best-known investigative outlets.
Russia has tightened its censorship laws and increased pressure on independent media since it launched its war in Ukraine in 2022. In another case this week, the FSB security service said it had detained a freelance journalist in Siberia on suspicion of treason.
State media on Thursday published a brief video clip of Roldugin's arrest, showing him being bundled into a van by masked men. Under Russian criminal law, misuse of personal data carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years if it causes "grave consequences".
Roldugin, standing in a glass box in the courtroom on Friday, told reporters he was innocent.
Russia lists Stanford University as ‘undesirable’ organisation
Saturday 11 April 2026 22:01 , Alex CroftRussia has declared Stanford University an “undesirable organisation,” a designation that bars it from operating in the country and makes any association with it punishable under criminal law.
The justice ministry announced the move on Friday, without providing a reason, according to The Kyiv Independent. The listing also covers Stanford’s Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.
Under the law, individuals linked to such organisations can face prison terms of up to four years, while those accused of organising related activity risk longer sentences.
The step follows similar action against Tufts University and forms part of a broader campaign targeting foreign academic institutions and other groups viewed as hostile to the Kremlin.
Your Views | ‘Who wants to be cannon fodder?’ Ukraine’s conscription crisis divides opinion among Independent readers
Saturday 11 April 2026 21:01 , Alex CroftIndependent readers have shared sharply divided views on Ukraine’s conscription crisis, reacting to a report from world affairs editor Sam Kiley on widespread draft dodging and rising strain on the armed forces.
Reporting from Izyum, in eastern Ukraine, Kiley’s report detailed the scandal of millions avoiding military call-ups – with hundreds of thousands of soldiers also absent without leave.
Many sympathised with those avoiding service, particularly men with families, describing it as understandable to fear a “one-way ticket” to the front. Some readers reflected on the psychological toll of the conflict, highlighting exhaustion among soldiers and the fear of being sent to the most dangerous areas with little chance of return – points also noted by Kiley on the ground.
Read your views here:
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‘Who wants to be cannon fodder?’ Ukraine’s conscription crisis splits readers
Drone debris falls on Russian oil depot
Saturday 11 April 2026 20:02 , Alex CroftDrone debris fell on the grounds of an oil depot overnight in the Russian town of Krymsk, causing a fire, local authorities said on Saturday.
The fire was extinguished by the morning, they said, adding that there were no injuries.
We’ll bring you more on the incident as it comes in.
Ukraine can play role in reopening Strait of Hormuz, says British minister
Saturday 11 April 2026 19:00 , Alex CroftUkraine can play a useful role in international efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, Britain's armed services minister said
During a visit to Kyiv on Friday, Al Carns praised Ukraine’s drone technology as among the best in the world.
"Ukraine has some of the best technology in the world that it's developed here in the war. I think that could provide utility in the Middle East, as we're seeing already against Shahed drones, all the way through to the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
Britain has organized discussions this month among more than 30 nations on how to reopen the strait, amid an Iranian blockade that has choked oil supplies to the global economy following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week Kyiv had participated in consultations on safeguarding navigation, drawing on expertise from four years of war with Russia. Ukraine has already deployed more than 200 experts to the Middle East, where they have downed Iran's long-range Shahed drones.
Zelensky publishes footage of Ukrainian prisoners returning home
Saturday 11 April 2026 17:59 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelensky has published footage of the Ukrainian prisoners of war returning home from Russian captivity.
An exchange between the two, confirmed by Mr Zelensky and the Russian Defence Ministry, saw 175 POWs returned on each side.
“Our people are returning home,” Mr Zelensky said.
“175 servicemembers. Warriors of the Armed Forces, National Guard members, border guards. Privates, sergeants, and officers. And seven civilians.
“Our warriors defended Ukraine on different fronts – Mariupol, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kursk directions. Some of them are wounded. Most have been in captivity since 2022. And finally – they are home.”
Home 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 11, 2026
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Вдома 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/vE5Yi14El5
In pictures: Ukrainian firefighters battle blaze after Russian attack on Odesa
Saturday 11 April 2026 16:57 , Alex Croft
