Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russian troops are gradually retreating from the western outskirts of Pokrovsk. This is happening after their unsuccessful attempt to cut off the highway from Dnipropetrovsk region; the turning point was the repulse at Kotlyne.
The SBU and National Police detained an agent of the Russian GRU in the Khmelnytskyi region. She was collecting data for Russian strikes on Ukrainian Armed Forces airfields and logistics centers in western Ukraine, recording the movement of equipment.
A government bill has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada that will make it impossible to evade mobilization through obtaining education. The document changes the rules for deferment, particularly for conscripts over 25 years old who are studying.
Russia officially announced the end of the "Easter truce". The Russian Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of violating it and resumed attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on all sections of the front.
According to the head of the ЦПД, Andrii Kovalenko, Russian drone and missile attacks indicate that any pauses by Putin in the war are purely a tactical move. They are aimed at obtaining favorable conditions for its continuation.
The SBU detained a 29-year-old local resident in the Chernihiv region who was adjusting Russian strikes on ZSU echelons. She installed "video traps" with online streaming near railway tracks and searched for radar stations.
Russians used the "Easter truce" to clear a passage across the Chorniy Zherebets river in order to resume the offensive. They were removing a previously damaged piece of equipment which blocked the passage for their armored vehicles.
On the night of April 21, the Russia attacked Ukraine with 96 drones and three missiles from various directions. Defense forces shot down 42 Shahed UAVs, another 47 were lost locationally; there are consequences for Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions.
An air alert has been announced in Kyiv due to the approach of enemy UAVs from the northeast. Russian drones also threaten Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhia regions, explosions were heard in Kyiv.
The Kremlin justifies the invasion of Ukraine with rhetoric of fighting "Nazism". This is aimed at militarizing society and preparing for a possible prolonged conflict with NATO.
During Russia's "Easter truce," fighting continued, although it subsided in some areas of the front. ISW emphasizes that ceasefire agreements require transparency and reliable monitoring.
An air alert was announced in Sumy region an hour after the completion of the "Easter truce" announced by Putin. The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recorded the activity of enemy aircraft in the northeastern direction and the threat of strikes.
President Zelenskyy reported over 2000 violations of Putin's "truce" by the Russian army as of 8:00 PM. 67 assaults, 1355 shellings, and 673 uses of FPV drones were recorded, mostly in the Pokrovsk direction.
For the week from April 14 to 20, Ukrainian air defense destroyed 699 Russian aerial targets. Among them were 159 attack Shahed drones, 3 "Iskander-K" missiles, and hundreds of other drones.
On the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian soldiers fell into a Russian ambush. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that as a result of this, there were deaths.
Russia staged a provocation in Donetsk with the aim of accusing Ukraine of violating the "Easter truce". In reality, however, the Kremlin itself does not adhere to it, having carried out hundreds of shellings and dozens of assaults in the first hours.
Starting from 10 a. m. on April 20, Russia increased the number of shellings and drone use, despite Putin's statement about an "Easter truce". Ukraine records all violations and provides information to partners.
Russia announced an "Easter truce" but immediately continued offensive operations and shelling, indicating its violation. According to ISW, the Russian Federation is likely using this for manipulation and seeking to earn US favor.
Russian troops are slightly retreating in the area of Kotlyne in the Pokrovsk direction, despite the enemy's maximum efforts in this sector of the front. Meanwhile, street fighting in Chasiv Yar does not stop.
During the night broadcast, Fox News showed a service of the OCU from Kyiv, mistakenly indicating it as Russia. Later, the channel corrected the label to Kyiv, Ukraine.
Over the past day, 127 combat engagements occurred on the front. In the Pokrovsk direction, the Defense Forces stopped 39 enemy assault actions.
President Zelenskyy reported that Russia is trying to create an impression of silence, but active battles continue at the front. According to Syrskyi, the enemy carried out hundreds of shellings and dozens of assaults recently.
The EU skeptically assessed Putin's statement about the "Easter truce". The European Union stated that Russia must prove its intentions to stop aggression with real actions, as words do not correspond to reality.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian assaults continue on some parts of the front and artillery fire does not subside. Ukraine does not trust Moscow's words and is ready to respond mirror-like to every strike.
As a result of the 63rd exchange and actions outside of it, 277 Ukrainians have been returned: 246 soldiers were exchanged, 31 were released separately. These are defenders from different directions who will now meet Easter at home.
President Zelenskyy announced the return of 277 Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity. Among those released are servicemen of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Special Transport Service, and border guards who defended various fronts.
On the night of April 19, Russia attacked Ukraine with 95 aerial targets, including missiles and 87 drones. Air defense shot down 33 "Shaheds", 36 drones were accounted for otherwise; there are affected regions.
During the day on April 18, 162 combat engagements occurred on the front. The most active was the Pokrovsk direction with 54 battles, the enemy also carried out 103 airstrikes and used 2855 drones.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated another 1180 Russian occupiers over the past day. In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian army has lost 940,150 servicemen, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
Ukrainian troops advanced near Toretsk, while Russian occupiers had success in several directions. According to ISW data, Russian advances were recorded near Kupyansk, Lyman, Kurakhove, and in the Kursk region.