Ukraine’s armed forces reported that Russian forces kept up a barrage of attacks along the front concentrated in two cities in the eastern Donetsk region, while maintaining that Kiev had repelled more than 40 Russian attacks in the preceding 24 hours.
The general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Sunday that the heaviest fighting was occurring along the western approaches to Bakhmut, one of the two cities in the east that Russia’s military has been targeting along with Avdiivka.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine condemned Russian air strikes on Orthodox Palm Sunday in a weekend video address, saying that the actions of the Russian government only served to further isolate Moscow internationally.
During Easter events at the Vatican, Pope Francis, who has been critical of Russia’s conflict, prayed for peace: “Assist the devoted Ukrainian people on their voyage towards peace, and shine the light of Easter upon the people of Russia.”
The Russians have been encircling Bakhmut for months, making this the war’s longest battle so far.
