Russian Attacks Continue Amid Holy Week Ceasefire in Ukraine

What Happened

On April 13, 2026, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian troops continue to engage in combat operations on various fronts, despite the announced Holy Week ceasefire. The Ukrainian Defense Forces are responding to these aggressions.

The General Staff noted that since the ceasefire began, there have been 1,355 artillery bombardments and 115 storming actions by Russian forces. Additionally, over the same period, Ukrainian military personnel faced 6,226 attacks from kamikaze drones, including types such as 'Italmas,' 'Lancet,' and 'Molniya.'

Key Details

According to the report, while Russia generally adheres to the ceasefire, it maintains military operations in several key areas. The Ukrainian Forces have documented a total of 7,696 violations of the ceasefire by Russian entities.

On the morning of April 13, 2026, there were 91 recorded combat clashes. The aggressors launched a total of 4,767 drone attacks and executed 840 bombardments targeting both local populations and military positions.

In the north-south regions, the enemy conducted 15 clashes, primarily against Ukrainian positions and local areas. In specific segments, they attacked ten times near Synelnykove, Starytsia, Izbytske, Vovchansk, and Lyman.

One storming assault continues in that region. In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces mounted three attacks around Petropavlivka and Podoliv, with one ongoing assault currently underway.

The Lyman direction saw five repelled storming attempts by Ukrainian military against Russian advances. On the Sloviansk front, the enemy attempted to advance towards Rai-Oleksandrivka, Ozerne, Kalenyky, and Riznykivka on five occasions.

In the Kramatorsk direction, Russian troops made an assault towards Markove. Ukrainian soldiers faced 14 storming actions in the Kostiantynivka area and neighboring zones, with 22 attempts made in the Pokrovsk direction targeting locations such as Bilitske, Rodynske, and Myrnohrad.

Reportedly, approximately 55 Russian soldiers were eliminated in these actions, with another 15 injured. Eight vehicles were destroyed, along with significant damage to fortifications and military equipment.

Why It Matters

The ongoing hostilities, even during a declared ceasefire, raise concerns about the potential for further escalation in the conflict. The information about the violations highlights the challenging security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, as civilians remain at risk amid the fighting.

Background

The Holy Week ceasefire was expected to provide a respite for civilians affected by ongoing military actions in Ukraine. However, the reality on the ground indicates that Russian forces have chosen to ignore this period of supposed tranquility. The conflict, which began in 2014, continues to disrupt lives and contribute to instability in the region.