Donbass offensive, attacks on rear positions, and an Easter truce: The week in the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Moscow has unexpectedly announced a 30-hour ceasefire to coincide with Easter. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine this week has involved intense combat at various locations along the front line, particularly in the border region,...
TroibNews 
Moscow has unexpectedly announced a 30-hour ceasefire to coincide with Easter.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine this week has involved intense combat at various locations along the front line, particularly in the border region, as Russian forces reportedly made new advances in the Donbass area.
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a temporary 30-hour halt to hostilities, urging Ukraine to respect the truce as well. The ceasefire commenced at 18:00 Moscow time on Saturday and continued until midnight on April 21.
Putin remarked that Ukraine’s response to the Easter ceasefire would reveal its willingness and ability to engage in potential negotiations. He advised Ukrainian troops to maintain high alertness and readiness to address any incidents, citing Kiev's history of broken agreements.
“Our troops must be prepared to respond to any violations or provocations by the adversary, to any aggressive actions,” he emphasized.
Ukraine's reaction to the ceasefire has been mixed. Initially, President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized Moscow’s proposal as an attempt to "play with human lives." However, later in the day, he took a different stance, suggesting that the ceasefire could be extended beyond the 30-hour period if it holds.
“If Russia is now suddenly ready to really join the format of complete and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine will act in a reciprocal way – as it will be from the Russian side. Silence in response to silence, strikes in response to strikes,” Zelensky stated.
Both sides exchanged accusations of breaching the truce. The Russian military claimed that Ukrainian forces launched 1,300 attacks within less than 24 hours following the ceasefire declaration. Meanwhile, Zelensky asserted that Russian troops shelled Ukrainian positions over 900 times and conducted approximately 46 "assault operations" during the same timeframe.
As planned, the ceasefire concluded, with the Kremlin indicating approximately five hours before the deadline that it would not be extended without further instructions from the Russian president.
Border Warfare
Throughout the week, the Russian military continued its efforts to dismantle the remnants of Ukrainian forces that had invaded the Kursk Region the previous year. Ukrainian control in the area has diminished to a narrow strip of land along the border, roughly between the villages of Oleshnya and Guyevo, which were liberated last week. On Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that their troops had also taken control of Oleshnya.
Key developments during the week occurred near the village of Gornal and the adjacent Belogorsky Monastery, which is situated on a prominent hill and features a sprawling network of chalk caves that serve as a natural fortress.
According to Russian media reports, around 300 Ukrainian servicemen were barricaded in the monastery, with Russian forces attempting to negotiate their surrender or withdrawal to avoid causing more damage to the facility. Unfortunately, these negotiations ultimately failed, and it was reported that a Ukrainian officer who had communicated with the Russian forces was killed by his comrades.
The Russian troops subsequently stormed the monastery, with around 30 Ukrainian soldiers believed to still be hiding in the caves below. Online drone footage depicts significant damage to the monastery during the fighting.
Russian military estimates suggest that Ukrainian forces have suffered severe losses during the Kursk Region invasion. Over 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have been killed or wounded in the area, alongside the destruction or capture of over 400 tanks, 335 infantry fighting vehicles, 307 armored personnel carriers, and more than 2,700 other armored vehicles.
Donbass Push
The Russian military also reported new gains in the Donbass, advancing on the outskirts of Pokrovsk, which is the largest city still under Ukrainian control in the southwest of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
This week, Russian troops extended their zone of control southwest of the city, liberating the village of Preobrazhenka, and also seizing Yelizavetovka, a location that has experienced the most intense fighting in recent weeks, often changing hands.
Yelizavetovka is strategically located along a road that runs from Pokrovsk deeper into Donbass, frequently used by Ukrainian troops for supplies; its significance has diminished recently due to the frontline's proximity and the destruction of multiple road bridges in Pokrovsk and the nearby city of Mirnograd.
The Russian military made further advancements to the east, liberating the villages of Kalinovo and Valentinovka. This progress indicates that Moscow has solidified its hold on the city of Toretsk and potentially opened up avenues for advance toward the north, targeting Konstantinovka, a key logistics hub approximating 10 kilometers northwest of Toretsk.
Geran-2 Drones
Over the past week, the Russian military has conducted extensive strikes against Ukraine’s military infrastructure, stockpiles, and other rear facilities. In these operations, Moscow has notably employed Geran-2 kamikaze drones, with numerous strikes targeting facilities across Ukraine.
The delta-wing drones have taken on an increasingly vital role in the conflict, serving as an important supplement to long-range missile strikes and frequently substituting more sophisticated munitions.
A significant drone assault targeted military and industrial facilities in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr on Thursday. The drones penetrated anti-aircraft defenses, leading to over 20 reported explosions in the city. Footage shows the nighttime skyline illuminated by numerous explosions and fires ignited by the drones.
A video from Sumy this week depicted Geran-2 drones strike a staging area where multiple Ukrainian military trucks were parked, resulting in the destruction of the vehicles alongside a thick plume of smoke. The footage is believed to have been recorded by an upgraded surveillance version of the Geran-2. This variant seemingly features high-resolution optics for enhanced video quality.
Geran’s smaller counterpart, the Gerbera, also appears to have received an upgrade. These small drones have previously been used alongside their larger counterparts as decoys to expose anti-aircraft positions and deplete their ammunition, but they may now be fully developed kamikaze UAVs. A new video showcases a Gerbera equipped with a warhead and a camera targeting a Ukrainian Buk-M1 anti-aircraft system, reportedly converted into a FrankenSAM system with US-made RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.
The system sustained a hit to its rear, likely catching fire. While the damage extent remains unclear, it is probable that the FrankenSAM was rendered inoperable, with its radar damaged by drone fragments.
Hunt for Ukrainian Artillery
The Russian military has continued hunting down Ukrainian long-range mobile artillery, successfully destroying several pieces over the week. Multiple recent videos feature Lancet-family drones, which have become crucial tools in Russia's arsenal for short-to-medium range attacks.
One video released by the Russian Defense Ministry captures a Lancet drone targeting a Polish-made AHS Krab 155mm self-propelled howitzer in the Kharkov Region. The artillery piece was visible beside a covered dugout when it was hit, reportedly igniting its ammunition and resulting in the vehicle's destruction.
Another video circulating online displays Lancet strikes against a rare Swedish-supplied Archer 155mm self-propelled artillery system, along with a strike on Ukraine’s domestically developed Bogdana 155mm wheeled howitzer, comparable to the French-made Caesar artillery. Although the results of the Archer strike are not visible in the footage, it appears to confirm the destruction of the Bogdana.
A dramatic compilation of FPV drone strikes reportedly taken in the southern DPR showcases the pursuit of a Caesar howitzer. The vehicle was discovered hidden in a wooded area but survived the first hit, attempting to flee. Ultimately, it ended up exposed and was struck by another drone, resulting in a fire onboard.
The crew managed to extinguish the flames, as evidenced by marks seen by a third FPV drone that approached the howitzer just as an old Soviet-era ATS-59G artillery tractor arrived to tow it away. Despite being ill-suited for battlefield recovery, the unarmored tractor initially survived the first hit. However, subsequent drone strikes targeted both vehicles, leading to a fire and their eventual destruction.
The Russian military also located and destroyed a US-supplied HIMARS multiple rocket launcher tracked to a hiding position west of Kramatorsk. Drone surveillance footage captured the launcher alongside a support vehicle before it was struck by a ballistic missile from an Iskander-M system. The attack resulted in the detonation of the launcher's ammunition, producing distinct white smoke trails, and reportedly killed at least eight Ukrainian servicemen due to the strike and the ensuing secondary explosion.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine this week has involved intense combat at various locations along the front line, particularly in the border region, as Russian forces reportedly made new advances in the Donbass area.
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a temporary 30-hour halt to hostilities, urging Ukraine to respect the truce as well. The ceasefire commenced at 18:00 Moscow time on Saturday and continued until midnight on April 21.
Putin remarked that Ukraine’s response to the Easter ceasefire would reveal its willingness and ability to engage in potential negotiations. He advised Ukrainian troops to maintain high alertness and readiness to address any incidents, citing Kiev's history of broken agreements.
“Our troops must be prepared to respond to any violations or provocations by the adversary, to any aggressive actions,” he emphasized.
Ukraine's reaction to the ceasefire has been mixed. Initially, President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized Moscow’s proposal as an attempt to "play with human lives." However, later in the day, he took a different stance, suggesting that the ceasefire could be extended beyond the 30-hour period if it holds.
“If Russia is now suddenly ready to really join the format of complete and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine will act in a reciprocal way – as it will be from the Russian side. Silence in response to silence, strikes in response to strikes,” Zelensky stated.
Both sides exchanged accusations of breaching the truce. The Russian military claimed that Ukrainian forces launched 1,300 attacks within less than 24 hours following the ceasefire declaration. Meanwhile, Zelensky asserted that Russian troops shelled Ukrainian positions over 900 times and conducted approximately 46 "assault operations" during the same timeframe.
As planned, the ceasefire concluded, with the Kremlin indicating approximately five hours before the deadline that it would not be extended without further instructions from the Russian president.
Border Warfare
Throughout the week, the Russian military continued its efforts to dismantle the remnants of Ukrainian forces that had invaded the Kursk Region the previous year. Ukrainian control in the area has diminished to a narrow strip of land along the border, roughly between the villages of Oleshnya and Guyevo, which were liberated last week. On Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that their troops had also taken control of Oleshnya.
Key developments during the week occurred near the village of Gornal and the adjacent Belogorsky Monastery, which is situated on a prominent hill and features a sprawling network of chalk caves that serve as a natural fortress.
According to Russian media reports, around 300 Ukrainian servicemen were barricaded in the monastery, with Russian forces attempting to negotiate their surrender or withdrawal to avoid causing more damage to the facility. Unfortunately, these negotiations ultimately failed, and it was reported that a Ukrainian officer who had communicated with the Russian forces was killed by his comrades.
The Russian troops subsequently stormed the monastery, with around 30 Ukrainian soldiers believed to still be hiding in the caves below. Online drone footage depicts significant damage to the monastery during the fighting.
Russian military estimates suggest that Ukrainian forces have suffered severe losses during the Kursk Region invasion. Over 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers are reported to have been killed or wounded in the area, alongside the destruction or capture of over 400 tanks, 335 infantry fighting vehicles, 307 armored personnel carriers, and more than 2,700 other armored vehicles.
Donbass Push
The Russian military also reported new gains in the Donbass, advancing on the outskirts of Pokrovsk, which is the largest city still under Ukrainian control in the southwest of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
This week, Russian troops extended their zone of control southwest of the city, liberating the village of Preobrazhenka, and also seizing Yelizavetovka, a location that has experienced the most intense fighting in recent weeks, often changing hands.
Yelizavetovka is strategically located along a road that runs from Pokrovsk deeper into Donbass, frequently used by Ukrainian troops for supplies; its significance has diminished recently due to the frontline's proximity and the destruction of multiple road bridges in Pokrovsk and the nearby city of Mirnograd.
The Russian military made further advancements to the east, liberating the villages of Kalinovo and Valentinovka. This progress indicates that Moscow has solidified its hold on the city of Toretsk and potentially opened up avenues for advance toward the north, targeting Konstantinovka, a key logistics hub approximating 10 kilometers northwest of Toretsk.
Geran-2 Drones
Over the past week, the Russian military has conducted extensive strikes against Ukraine’s military infrastructure, stockpiles, and other rear facilities. In these operations, Moscow has notably employed Geran-2 kamikaze drones, with numerous strikes targeting facilities across Ukraine.
The delta-wing drones have taken on an increasingly vital role in the conflict, serving as an important supplement to long-range missile strikes and frequently substituting more sophisticated munitions.
A significant drone assault targeted military and industrial facilities in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr on Thursday. The drones penetrated anti-aircraft defenses, leading to over 20 reported explosions in the city. Footage shows the nighttime skyline illuminated by numerous explosions and fires ignited by the drones.
A video from Sumy this week depicted Geran-2 drones strike a staging area where multiple Ukrainian military trucks were parked, resulting in the destruction of the vehicles alongside a thick plume of smoke. The footage is believed to have been recorded by an upgraded surveillance version of the Geran-2. This variant seemingly features high-resolution optics for enhanced video quality.
Geran’s smaller counterpart, the Gerbera, also appears to have received an upgrade. These small drones have previously been used alongside their larger counterparts as decoys to expose anti-aircraft positions and deplete their ammunition, but they may now be fully developed kamikaze UAVs. A new video showcases a Gerbera equipped with a warhead and a camera targeting a Ukrainian Buk-M1 anti-aircraft system, reportedly converted into a FrankenSAM system with US-made RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles.
The system sustained a hit to its rear, likely catching fire. While the damage extent remains unclear, it is probable that the FrankenSAM was rendered inoperable, with its radar damaged by drone fragments.
Hunt for Ukrainian Artillery
The Russian military has continued hunting down Ukrainian long-range mobile artillery, successfully destroying several pieces over the week. Multiple recent videos feature Lancet-family drones, which have become crucial tools in Russia's arsenal for short-to-medium range attacks.
One video released by the Russian Defense Ministry captures a Lancet drone targeting a Polish-made AHS Krab 155mm self-propelled howitzer in the Kharkov Region. The artillery piece was visible beside a covered dugout when it was hit, reportedly igniting its ammunition and resulting in the vehicle's destruction.
Another video circulating online displays Lancet strikes against a rare Swedish-supplied Archer 155mm self-propelled artillery system, along with a strike on Ukraine’s domestically developed Bogdana 155mm wheeled howitzer, comparable to the French-made Caesar artillery. Although the results of the Archer strike are not visible in the footage, it appears to confirm the destruction of the Bogdana.
A dramatic compilation of FPV drone strikes reportedly taken in the southern DPR showcases the pursuit of a Caesar howitzer. The vehicle was discovered hidden in a wooded area but survived the first hit, attempting to flee. Ultimately, it ended up exposed and was struck by another drone, resulting in a fire onboard.
The crew managed to extinguish the flames, as evidenced by marks seen by a third FPV drone that approached the howitzer just as an old Soviet-era ATS-59G artillery tractor arrived to tow it away. Despite being ill-suited for battlefield recovery, the unarmored tractor initially survived the first hit. However, subsequent drone strikes targeted both vehicles, leading to a fire and their eventual destruction.
The Russian military also located and destroyed a US-supplied HIMARS multiple rocket launcher tracked to a hiding position west of Kramatorsk. Drone surveillance footage captured the launcher alongside a support vehicle before it was struck by a ballistic missile from an Iskander-M system. The attack resulted in the detonation of the launcher's ammunition, producing distinct white smoke trails, and reportedly killed at least eight Ukrainian servicemen due to the strike and the ensuing secondary explosion.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
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