Russian drones strike Sumy region amidst proclaimed 'truce' — local official

She shared this in an interview with Espreso TV.

"We stopped believing any promises long ago, including claims that the war would end in 24 hours. We always pay attention to air raid sirens and explosions. Here at the border, just 7 kilometers from Russia, the alarms don’t always go off in time — often there’s only about three seconds between the sound of an approaching attack and its impact. Naturally, people listen closely for alarms and artillery strikes, especially after Russian attacks on the city of Sumy," Kalinichenko said.

She also noted that while the number of air raid alerts in the region has indeed decreased, Russian drones are still active over the border communities.

"Today, the number of alerts in the region is noticeably lower. All our acquaintances are calling and asking if there are any air raid warnings. In Sumy, there hadn't been any alarms for several hours. However, along the border, we received reports that enemy 'Lancet' drones are flying over the communities. Drones were spotted earlier and are still hovering over the border areas of Sumy region. That’s why we continue to respond and pay close attention to air threat signals, despite the declared ceasefire," she added.

Russia self-declares "Easter truce"

Vladimir Putin unilaterally announced an “Easter truce” beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

Leading up to 6:00 p.m., air raid alerts continued in Kyiv, and Russian drones were shot down over the capital’s Left Bank.

At 5:30 p.m., Russia launched a missile strike on Izyum in the Kharkiv region. Even after the announced start of the truce, Russian FPV drones continued hitting targets in the Kherson region.

After 9:00 p.m. on April 19, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief briefed President Zelenskyy with updated information from all frontline sectors regarding the implementation of Putin’s so-called “Easter truce.” At that time, it was reported that while some areas had quieted down, others remained active with ongoing hostilities.

As of Easter morning, April 20, Russian forces appear to be trying to create the impression of a ceasefire at the front, but are still carrying out isolated attacks and attempting to push forward in some areas.