Ukraine reels as Putin halts fighting after Kursk region breakthrough

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral Easter ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, ordering Russian forces to halt combat operations from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday until midnight on Easter Sunday. The Kremlin expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate by suspending military actions during this period, though Putin also instructed the Russian military chief, Valery Gerasimov, to prepare troops for any potential violations by Kyiv. This temporary truce marks a rare pause in hostilities amid intense fighting near Russia’s border regions.
The announcement follows reports that Russian forces have captured the village of Oleshnya in Russia’s Kursk region, one of the last Ukrainian footholds inside Russian territory. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that units from the North military group liberated Oleshnya during active offensive operations, while fierce combat continues in the nearby village of Gornal, about seven miles south, where Ukrainian troops remain engaged. Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly eliminated Kyiv’s strategic presence in this area, which saw a surprise Ukrainian incursion last year.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported a wave of 87 Russian drone and decoy attacks overnight, intercepting 33 and electronically jamming another 36. These strikes caused damage to farms in the Odesa region and triggered fires in the Sumy region, though emergency services confirmed the fires were contained with no casualties. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian drones during the same period, underscoring the ongoing aerial confrontations despite the declared ceasefire.