Easter Ceasefire Begins Amid Limited Clashes as POW Exchanges Continue

The Orthodox Easter ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began on April 11 but quickly saw limited violations reported by both sides. Ukraine and Russia exchanged 175 POWs each (plus seven civilian prisoners reportedly sent back by Russia), with UAE mediation noted. The Kremlin reportedly moved to take control of seven of eight Russian SIZOs via the FSB, raising concerns about detainee rights. UN HRMMU data links March civilian casualties to short-range weapons and FPV drones, while ISW says Russia’s FPV drone use is part of a broader effort to threaten civilians. On the ground, Ukrainian forces continued long-range strikes against oil infrastructure in Russia and occupied Crimea, and fighting persisted across multiple axes with no decisive breakthroughs. }