Explosions Erupt in Donetsk Amid Fragile Easter Ceasefire

A Kremlin-declared one-day ceasefire for Orthodox Easter failed to halt hostilities in eastern Ukraine, with multiple explosions reported in Russian-controlled Donetsk and ongoing air raid alerts across several regions. Both Kyiv and Moscow accused each other of violating the truce, with Ukrainian officials citing Russian assaults and shelling, while Russian authorities reported Ukrainian attacks, including drone strikes and artillery fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the ceasefire as largely symbolic and accused Russia of using it to create a false impression of calm, reiterating Ukraine's willingness to extend the truce for a longer period. Local reports confirmed at least three blasts in Donetsk, though the cause remains unclear and independent verification was not possible. Despite the ceasefire announcement, fighting and violations persisted along the front lines, with both sides reporting numerous attacks. The brief truce underscores the ongoing difficulty in establishing meaningful pauses in the conflict.