During the so-called “Easter Ceasefire,” Russian troops continued deliberate and large-scale attacks against Ukraine, violating the announced agreements and contributing to even greater tension on the country’s fronts
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the past day alone, the aggressor carried out nearly 2,000 shellings and 96 combat engagements, demonstrating its unwavering determination to break through Ukrainian defenses. On April 20, Ukrainian defenders recorded a record number of attacks and shellings across various sectors. In particular, on the Pоковсько direction, the enemy attacked over 40 times and conducted more than 1,800 shellings — including 33 with rocket artillery systems — and utilized 957 kamikaze drones to strike Ukrainian positions and settlements. This indicates a high level of activity of the Russian army and its ambitions to maintain or even expand control in temporarily occupied areas. In the Kharkiv region, the occupiers made one attempt to break through the Ukrainian defensive line near Krasne Pershe but were unsuccessful. In the Kupiansk sector, a armed confrontation took place near Holubivka, while the most tense situations remain on the Lyman and Siversky sectors: the enemy attacked 12 and 3 times respectively, attempting to penetrate defenses in the areas of NYDIA, Mіrne, Hrekivka, Katerynivka, Novo and Yampolivka. The most intense fighting is currently ongoing in the Sivershchyna region, where the enemy made three attempts to advance near Bilohorivka and Ivanо-Darіivka. On the eastern front, in the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces attacked five times near Chasiv Yar and also in the directions of Stupochok and Bilo Gora. The efforts of the occupiers in the Toretsk sector were equally intense — they launched 10 attacks near the settlements of Druzhba, Toretsk, and Leoniivka. A significant portion of Ukrainian fortifications has been breached on the Pokrovsk sector, where Ukrainian troops managed to repulse 39 assault attempts by Russian forces trying to break through defenses in the areas of Sukhі Balka, Myrolubivka, Yelizavetivka, Lysivka, Kotlyne, Udaне, Novooleksandrivka, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriivka, and Rozliv. This once again confirms the high combat capability and resilience of Ukrainian soldiers, who actively resist the enemy and inflict substantial losses. In the southern sectors — Novopavlivsk and Orikhiv — the occupiers launched several attacks but were unsuccessful, suffering losses in equipment and manpower. Specifically, in the Novopavlivsk area, the enemy made five attempts to break through, and in the Orikhiv sector, four, but Ukrainian defenders hold the line and prevent the enemy from advancing. In the Gulaypole and Pre-Dnipro directions, no active battles were reported in the past day. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military forces in the Volyn and Polissya regions detected no signs of the formation of new enemy offensive groups. This indicates a temporary lull on these front segments. On the Kursk border sector of the Russian Federation, the past day saw 184 shellings of Ukrainian positions, including 17 with missile artillery systems. Despite this, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled 16 enemy assault attempts, inflicting significant losses in personnel and equipment. Maintaining control of the situation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to destroy the enemy’s offensive potential in the rear, actively eliminating logistical depots, command posts, and targeting well-coordinated enemy ammunition stocks. Overall, the situation on the front remains extremely tense and complex. Ukrainian troops demonstrate high combat skill and bravery despite systematic pressure and massive shellings from Russia. At the same time, enemy losses, destroyed equipment, and active sabotage in the rear by Ukrainian forces significantly reduce the enemy’s combat readiness, giving Ukraine an advantage in this prolonged and exhausting struggle for independence and territorial integrity.