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Orthodox Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine Begins Amid Reported Violations; Prisoner Exchange and Russian Security Service Takeover of Detention Centers Reported

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Ceasefire Declared for Orthodox Easter, Violations Reported Almost Immediately

A unilateral Russian ceasefire for Orthodox Easter began at 1600 local time on April 11. Ukraine agreed to mirror the move, but both sides reported violations within the first hour.

Ceasefire Implementation and Reported Violations

The ceasefire, declared by Russia, came into effect on April 11. President Zelensky confirmed Ukraine's position to mirror Russian actions, stating that Ukraine would observe a "regime of silence" and refrain from strikes as long as Russian forces did the same. Multiple sources reported that the ceasefire was not fully observed.

Alleged Russian 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 news channel was identified as a Russian FPV drone striking a civilian parking lot in Kherson City approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes after the ceasefire began.

Alleged Ukrainian Violations:

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

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

Prisoner Exchange Conducted on April 11

On April 11, Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange. Each side exchanged 175 prisoners of war (POWs). In addition:

  • Russia returned seven civilian prisoners to Ukraine.
  • Ukraine returned seven residents of Kursk Oblast to Russia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated the exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

FSB Takes Control of Pre-Trial Detention Centers

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has reportedly taken control of seven of eight major Russian pre-trial detention centers (SIZOs).

Scope of Takeover:
According to the Russian opposition outlet The Insider, citing a Russian state register, the FSB assumed control of:

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

Only SIZO-1 in Moscow remains under the control of the Federal Penitentiary Service.

Legal Basis:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in July 2025 granting the FSB the ability to control its own pre-trial detention centers as of January 1, 2026. The Insider reported that the FSB assumed control of the Lefortovo SIZO on March 2 and the other six facilities on March 23.

Reported Conditions:
Russian human rights lawyers told The Insider that the FSB's takeover has degraded detainee conditions and restricted access to legal counsel.

Civilian Casualties and Drone Use at Highest Levels

"The number of civilian casualties from short-range drone strikes has increased significantly from 2024 to 2026, with the March 2026 casualty rate reported to be 70% higher than March 2025."

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 was reported as the highest monthly civilian casualty rate since July 2025.

Key findings:

  • 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.
  • Half of the civilian casualties in March were elderly people, noted HRMMU Head Danielle Belle.

Military Operations Prior to Ceasefire

Intensive military operations were reported in the period leading up to the ceasefire on April 11.

Ukrainian Operations:

  • Ukrainian forces advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, the Hulyaipole direction, and the Novopavlivka direction.
  • Ukrainian forces conducted strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, including:
    • The Krymskaya oil pumping station in Krasnodar Krai
    • Targets in Tver City
    • Two drilling platforms at the Valery Grayfer and Yuri Korchagin oil fields in the northern Caspian Sea on the night of April 9-10

Russian Operations:

  • Russian forces continued offensive operations across multiple areas, including northern Sumy Oblast, northern Kharkiv Oblast, the Kupyansk and Borova directions, the Slovyansk and Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka areas, the Dobropillya and Pokrovsk directions, the Novopavlivka and Oleksandrivka directions, the Hulyaipole direction, western Zaporizhia Oblast, and near Kherson City.
  • Russian forces launched 160 long-range strike drones against Ukraine overnight on April 10-11. The Ukrainian Air Force reported downing 133 of these drones, with 20 striking 10 locations and debris falling on 11 locations.
  • Ukrainian officials reported strikes on residential infrastructure in Kirovohrad, Sumy, and Poltava oblasts, and on civilian and energy infrastructure in Odesa Oblast. Sumy Oblast Police reported at least 21 injuries from the strikes.