Ukraine war briefing: Russia responds to Zelenskyy’s Easter truce offer with drone attack

Russia's defense ministry announced on Wednesday that its forces have fully seized control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, claiming to have captured the remaining territory that was previously beyond their reach since 2022. This region is one of the four that Russia claimed as its own in 2022, a move rejected by Kyiv and most Western nations. Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report, and a Ukrainian military spokesman stated that there have been no battlefield changes in the area in the last six months. Luhansk, along with Donetsk, constitutes the Donbas industrial area. The Kremlin reiterated its demand for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the part of Donetsk that Moscow does not control to end the "hot phase" of the war, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly dismissed.

Russia claimed on Wednesday that its forces have fully seized Ukraine's Luhansk region. However, a Ukrainian military official denied this claim. The announcement comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with U.S. envoys to discuss mediating an end to the ongoing Russian invasion. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its "Group of Forces West" had completed the "liberation" of the Luhansk People's Republic. The situation remains contested as both sides present conflicting accounts of the territorial control in the region.

Russia's Ministry of Defence announced its forces have taken full control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, a claim Ukraine has not yet confirmed. This suggests Russia now controls the entire Luhansk area, which had remained partially under Ukrainian control since the 2022 invasion. The ministry also stated that Russian forces seized Verkhnya Pysarivka in the Kharkiv region and Boikove in the Zaporizhia region. Luhansk and Donetsk comprise the Donbas area, with Russia controlling most of Luhansk and about three-quarters of Donetsk, which it demands Ukraine fully withdraw from. The Kremlin reiterated this demand, stating that President Zelenskyy should have withdrawn forces from the Donbas to end the active phase of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced progress toward a U.S.-backed security deal following a call with envoys of former President Donald Trump. The conversation, which included Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Senator Lindsey Graham, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, focused on establishing a "dignified peace." Zelenskyy stated that they agreed to strengthen security guarantees for Ukraine and that he has instructed his team to update relevant documents. This comes as Zelenskyy reported Ukrainian forces intercepted approximately 90% of over 700 drones targeting energy facilities and residential buildings on Wednesday. The goal is to ensure strong security guarantees and realistic prospects for post-war reconstruction.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated he had a "positive" discussion with American envoys regarding a potential ceasefire for the Easter holidays. The discussion, reported on an unspecified date, centered on the ongoing war in Ukraine. The article does not specify the American representatives involved or the details of the proposed ceasefire. The aim of the discussion was to explore the possibility of a temporary cessation of hostilities during the Easter period. Further details regarding the outcome of the discussion or the likelihood of a ceasefire were not provided in the available information.