Russian troops have captured Katerynivka on the Lyman front, violating the tense ceasefire regime, according to the monitoring project DeepState
According to their information, as of Sunday evening, the occupation army of the Russian Federation has advanced and controls a strategically important settlement, as well as consolidates itself near areas such as Novy, Preobrazhenka, and Sukhaya Balka. This indicates that Russian forces continue to conduct hostilities in eastern Ukraine, disregarding the words about a “ceasefire” declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The background of this situation is quite complex. The day before, on Saturday, the Kremlin announced a so-called "Easter ceasefire," which involved a cessation of hostilities for only two days — from the evening of April 19 to midnight on April 21. Officially, Russia stated that shelling and fighting on their part would cease contingent upon Kyiv adhering to the ceasefire regime. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized on Saturday evening that Ukraine would act in a mirror manner and take appropriate measures in response to any acts of enemy aggression. He also highlighted the readiness to extend this pause in hostilities after the declared ceasefire ends, provided all sides can reach a mutual agreement to cease fire and achieve full silence on the front line. However, data from the DeepState monitoring project show the complete opposite of the official rhetoric. According to their information, on most front-line sections, Ukrainian soldiers have not observed any signs that the Russians are fulfilling their promises to cease hostilities. Military experts report that the situation remains very tense: since April 20, as of 4 p.m., at least 45 combat clashes have occurred on the front. A significant number of these — around 20 — took place precisely on the Pokrovsk direction, indicating an escalation of Russian military activity despite the announced ceasefire. According to data from the United Forces Command of Ukraine, Russian troops, hiding behind their “great ceasefire,” have actually increased their efforts to organize routes for moving heavy equipment and preparing for new maneuvers. Particularly active are the areas along the Lyman front, where, according to the North Operational Command Group, the Russians, contrary to official promises, are concentrating their forces for further intensive combat operations. Overall, the situation remains tense and multifaceted. Kyiv and Ukrainian security officials insist that any “ceasefire” from Moscow is at best an illusion, as real hostilities continue in various forms. Therefore, military leadership and experts urge Ukrainians to exercise caution, remain highly vigilant, and be prepared for any developments on the front. At the same time, Ukrainian troops are already actively preparing for new combat tasks, as Russian occupiers continue to strengthen their positions and escalate activity in areas that previously seemed less tense.