Russia Strikes Odesa Despite Proposed Ukraine Easter Ceasefire

Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa overnight into Saturday, April 11, 2026, occurring just hours before a proposed ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter holiday was scheduled to take effect.

Local authorities reported that the drones hit a residential area in the Black Sea port city, causing damage to houses, apartment buildings, and a kindergarten. In addition to the two fatalities, two other people were wounded in the attack.

The strikes in Odesa were part of a broader wave of overnight attacks across Ukraine. In Poltava, a drone strike targeting a cafe and a shop killed one person and injured another. In the northeastern city of Sumy, strikes on several residential areas injured 14 people, including an 87-year-old and a 14-year-old.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia launched 160 drones overnight, 133 of which were intercepted or shot down.

Details of the Proposed Ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The order directed Russian forces to halt hostilities starting at 4 p.m. On Saturday, April 11, and continuing until the end of Sunday, April 12.

While some reports describe the pause as a 32-hour window, other sources characterize it as a 36-hour break, described by Moscow as a humanitarian gesture.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Ukraine would abide by the ceasefire, noting that it could serve as an opportunity to build upon peace initiatives.

Easter should be a time of silence and safety. A ceasefire (at) Easter could also become the beginning of real movement toward peace

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President Zelenskyy warned, however, that Ukraine would respond strictly in kind to any violations of the agreement. Prior to the announcement, Kyiv had proposed a specific pause in attacks targeting energy infrastructure during the holiday.

Russian Military Claims

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across Russia and occupied Crimea. Local authorities stated that drone debris fell on an oil depot in the Russian town of Krymsk, which resulted in a fire.

The conflict has now entered its fifth year since the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022. Previous attempts at establishing ceasefires have had limited impact, with both nations frequently accusing one another of violations.