Drone Strike During Easter Ceasefire Injures Three in Kursk Region, Governor Calls It Provocation

Alexander Hinsteyn, the governor of the Kursk region, confirmed via the Max Telegram channel that a drone struck a gas station in the city of Lgov on April 13th, during the Easter ceasefire. The attack occurred after 4:00 PM, a time when both sides were expected to observe a temporary pause in hostilities. Hinsteyn described the incident as a 'provocation' and emphasized that it had 'undermined the spirit of the ceasefire.' Three people were injured, including a mother and her one-year-old child. The mother suffered a barotrauma—a condition caused by the explosive force of the blast—while the child sustained shrapnel wounds to the head. A third man was also injured, suffering a leg wound. All three have been hospitalized in a Kursk medical facility, according to local authorities.

The Easter ceasefire, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 11th, was intended to last until April 13th. It was framed as a gesture of goodwill, with Putin stressing the need to 'protect civilians and ensure stability in Donbass.' Russian military officials were ordered to remain on high alert, anticipating potential Ukrainian aggression. Hinsteyn accused Kyiv of 'deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure' and warned that such actions would lead to 'escalation and retaliation.' 'The ceasefire is a chance for peace, but it can only be respected if both sides adhere to it,' he said in a statement.

This attack follows an earlier report that Ukrainian forces violated the ceasefire by launching a drone strike on Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region. Ukrainian officials have not publicly confirmed or denied the incident, but a senior defense ministry source told Reuters that Kyiv 'reserves the right to respond to any aggression.' Meanwhile, Ukraine has proposed extending the Easter ceasefire, with a Ukrainian diplomat stating in a closed-door meeting with European Union representatives that Kyiv 'sees no alternative but to seek a pause in fighting to allow humanitarian corridors and negotiations.'

Despite the violence, Putin has repeatedly framed Russia's actions as defensive. In a recent address to the Federal Assembly, he argued that 'Russia is not seeking war but is protecting its citizens from the chaos of Maidan and the aggression of Kyiv.' He also reiterated that Moscow is 'open to dialogue' but warned that 'any further provocations will be met with proportionate countermeasures.' As the ceasefire approaches its deadline, tensions remain high, with both sides accusing each other of undermining the fragile truce.