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Russia and Ukraine Trade Ceasefire Violation Accusations as Orthodox Easter Truce Begins

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Ukraine-Russia Update: Easter Ceasefire, Prisoner Swap, and FSB Takeover

A unilateral ceasefire declared by Russia for Orthodox Easter took effect at 1600 local time on April 11. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Ukraine would "observe a regime of silence" and mirror Russian actions, refraining from strikes provided Russian forces did the same.

Both Ukrainian and Russian sources reported alleged violations by the opposing side within the first hours of the truce. Separately, Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange on April 11, and reports emerged that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has assumed control of seven of the country's eight pre-trial detention centers.

Ceasefire Implementation and Alleged Violations

A Ukrainian monitoring channel reported that Russian forces conducted a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) strike against Tyahynska Hromada in Kherson Oblast within 30 minutes of the ceasefire taking effect.

Intercepted footage published by a Ukrainian channel reportedly showed a Russian first-person view (FPV) drone striking a civilian parking lot in Kherson City approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes after the ceasefire began.

The acting occupation mayor of Nova Kakhovka, Vladimir Oganesov, claimed that Ukrainian drone strikes damaged three cars and a house and injured one civilian in the occupied town within roughly 30 minutes of the ceasefire starting.

President Zelensky stated that Ukraine created a proposal to use the ceasefire to move toward peace.

Prisoner Exchange

Ukrainian and Russian authorities announced that they exchanged 175 prisoners of war (POWs) each on April 11. President Zelensky reported that Russia returned seven civilian prisoners to Ukraine as part of the exchange. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova stated that Russia received seven residents of Kursk Oblast from Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) mediated the exchange.

FSB Control of Detention Centers

According to a report by the Russian outlet The Insider, citing a state register, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has assumed control of seven out of eight major pre-trial detention centers (SIZOs) from the Federal Penitentiary Service.

The reported transfers include facilities in:

  • Moscow (SIZO-2)
  • St. Petersburg (SIZO-3)
  • Rostov-on-Don (SIZO-4)
  • Krasnodar City (SIZO-5)
  • Vladikavkaz (SIZO-6)
  • Chelyabinsk City (SIZO-7)
  • Occupied Simferopol, Crimea (SIZO-8)

Only SIZO-1 in Moscow remains under the control of the Federal Penitentiary Service. The Insider reported the FSB assumed control of the Lefortovo SIZO on March 2 and the other six facilities on March 23.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in July 2025 granting the FSB authority to control its own pre-trial detention centers as of January 1, 2026. Russian human rights lawyers told The Insider that the FSB's takeover has degraded detainee conditions and restricted access to legal counsel. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has noted reports that the FSB uses SIZO facilities to abuse Ukrainian POWs and civilians.

Civilian Casualties and Drone Use

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported on April 10 that short-range weapons, including drones, artillery, and airstrikes, killed 66 civilians and injured 369 in March 2026. This is reported as the highest monthly civilian casualty rate since July 2025.

Key findings from the HRMMU report:

  • 97% of recorded incidents of harm to civilians occurred on Ukrainian-controlled territory.
  • The number of civilian casualties from short-range drone strikes has increased significantly from 2024 to 2026.
  • The March 2026 casualty rate was 70% higher than the March 2025 rate.

HRMMU Head Danielle Belle noted that half of the civilian casualties in March were elderly people.

Military Operations (Prior to Ceasefire)

Ukrainian Operations

  • Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, the Hulyaipole direction, and the Novopavlivka direction.
  • Ukrainian forces struck oil infrastructure in Russia, including the Krymskaya oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai and unspecified targets in Tver City.
  • Ukrainian forces struck two drilling platforms at the Valery Grayfer and Yuri Korchagin oil fields in the northern Caspian Sea on the night of April 9-10.
  • Ukrainian forces conducted strikes against Russian military assets in occupied Donetsk and Zaporizhia oblasts, including ammunition depots, fuel warehouses, and troop concentrations.

Russian Operations

  • Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Sumy Oblast, northern Kharkiv Oblast, the Kupyansk direction, the Borova direction, the Slovyansk direction, and multiple areas within Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.
  • Russian forces launched 160 long-range strike drones against Ukraine overnight on April 10-11. The Ukrainian Air Force reported downing 133 drones, with 20 striking 10 locations and downed debris falling on 11 locations.
  • Ukrainian officials reported that Russian drone strikes hit residential infrastructure in Kirovohrad, Sumy, and Poltava oblasts, and civilian and energy infrastructure in Odesa Oblast. Sumy Oblast Police reported at least 21 injuries from the strikes.