Russian Strikes On Odesa Kill 2 Ahead Of Orthodox Easter Ceasefire As Prisoner Swap Takes Place

KYIV, Ukraine — Russian drone strikes killed astatine slightest 2 group successful nan Ukrainian metropolis of Odesa overnight into Saturday, section authorities reported, up of a proposed ceasefire for Orthodox Easter.

A further 2 group were wounded successful nan onslaught connected nan Black Sea larboard city, erstwhile drones deed a residential area, damaging flat buildings, houses and a kindergarten.

According to nan Ukrainian Air Force, Russia targeted Ukraine pinch 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were changeable down aliases intercepted, hours earlier a projected Easter ceasefire was owed to travel into force.

Russia's Defense Ministry said 99 Ukrainian drones were changeable down overnight crossed Russia and occupied Crimea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin connected Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire complete nan Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. Saturday until nan extremity of Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised Saturday to abide by nan ceasefire, describing it arsenic an opportunity to build connected bid initiatives. But he warned location would beryllium a swift subject consequence to immoderate violations.

"Easter should beryllium a clip of soundlessness and safety. A ceasefire (at) Easter could besides go nan opening of existent activity toward peace," Zelenskyy wrote successful an online station connected Saturday.

But he added: "We each understand who we are dealing with. Ukraine will adhere to nan ceasefire and respond strictly successful kind."

Ukraine earlier projected to Russia a region successful attacks connected each other's power infrastructure complete nan Orthodox Easter holiday.

Previous ceasefire attempts person had small impact, pinch some sides accusing each different of violations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov connected Friday described Putin's move arsenic a "humanitarian" gesture, but said Moscow remains focused connected a broad colony based connected its longstanding demands — a cardinal sticking constituent that has prevented nan 2 sides from reaching an agreement.

Prisoners exchanged

Russia's Defense Ministry said that a captive switch Saturday brought location 175 of its soldiers.

Zelenskyy confirmed Saturday's exchange, saying that 175 work members and 7 civilians were returned.

"Most had been held successful captivity since 2022. And finally, they are home," he wrote connected X.

A erstwhile Ukrainian captive of warfare (POW), wrapped pinch a Ukrainian nationalist flag, speaks connected a mobile telephone pursuing an speech astatine an undisclosed location connected April 11.Handout from Coordination Headquarters for nan Treatment of Prisoners of War / AFP - Getty Images

At nan speech tract successful bluish Ukraine, Svitlana Pohosyan waited for her son's return. Asked astir nan ceasefire, she said: "I want to judge it. God willing, whitethorn it beryllium so. We will judge and dream that everything will beryllium fine, that a ceasefire will travel connected specified a beatified day, and that location will beryllium bid — bid successful Ukraine and bid successful nan full world."

"My ceremony will travel erstwhile my boy returns," she added. "I will clasp him successful my arms — and that will beryllium nan top ceremony for me. And for each mother, each family."

Periodic prisoner exchanges person been 1 of nan fewer affirmative outcomes of different fruitless monthslong U.S.-brokered negotiations betwixt Moscow and Kyiv. The talks person delivered nary advancement connected cardinal issues preventing an extremity to Russia's penetration of its neighbor, now successful its 5th year.

Separately, 7 residents of Russia's Kursk region returned from Ukraine Saturday aft they were captured by nan Ukrainian army, Russian authorities media reported. They were greeted astatine nan Belarusian-Ukrainian separator by Russia's quality authorities ombudswoman, Tatyana Moskalkova.

According to Moskalkova, nan returnees were nan past of those who were taken to Ukraine from nan Kursk region aft nan Ukrainian service took power of parts of nan region successful 2024.

Ukrainian forces made a astonishment incursion into Kursk successful August 2024 successful 1 of their biggest battlefield successes successful nan war. The incursion was nan first clip Russian territory was occupied by an invader since World War II and dealt a humiliating rustle to nan Kremlin.