Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to pull back his forces from the Donbas region, emphasizing that such a move could save many lives and bring an end to the conflict’s active phase. Peskov clarified that the pause in trilateral talks involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine is not linked to the issue of Ukrainian armed forces in Donbas.
Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian forces have gained full control of the Luhansk region, along with settlements like Verkhnyaya Pisarevka in the Kharkiv region and Boykovo in the Zaporizhzhia region. Peskov reiterated Russia’s stance against a temporary truce in the Ukrainian conflict, advocating for a lasting peace settlement instead.
In response to Zelensky’s proposal for an Easter ceasefire, Peskov criticized it for lacking a clear initiative, urging Zelensky to focus on achieving a durable peace agreement as the cost of peace for Ukraine will escalate with time. Peskov highlighted the importance of Zelensky taking responsibility and making decisions that lead to lasting peace.
Orthodox Easter is set to be observed in Ukraine and Russia on April 12 this year. Additionally, Peskov warned that Russia would retaliate if EU member States are found to be permitting Ukraine to use their airspace for launching drone attacks on Russian targets. Russia’s air defense systems reportedly intercepted and destroyed 92 Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in a recent operation.
Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that three individuals, including two children, sustained injuries in the Leningrad Region due to Ukrainian drone attacks. The injured individuals received medical treatment and did not require hospitalization. Ukrainian drones have targeted various locations in Russia’s Leningrad Region over the past week, including strikes on the Ust-Luga port, a significant Russian oil export terminal.
