Observers imprisoned in eastern Ukraine

Vladimir Putin at Easter service in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended an Easter service in Moscow last night. The service was led by the Russian Orthodox Church, which supports the invasion of Ukraine. The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, is an ally of Putin and has regularly defended the war.

During the service, the Russian leader crossed himself several times. When Kirill announced “Christ is risen,” Putin responded “Verily, he is risen.” He spoke no further.

During an open-air service in Moscow on Saturday, Kirill said he hoped the conflict in Ukraine would end soon, but did not condemn it. His support for the Russian action has splintered the Orthodox Church.

Overview: Observers imprisoned in eastern Ukraine

These are the main developments from Saturday evening and the night from Saturday to Sunday:

• Observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are imprisoned in eastern Ukraine. The organization reports that “all possible channels are used to get them free.” The OSCE has been monitoring compliance with the ceasefire between the separatists and the Ukrainian military in eastern Ukraine since 2014. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many OSCE observers left, including Dutch members. The nationality of the captured observers is unknown.
• In the Eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk six civilians have been killed by Russian attacks, the governor of the region reports on Telegram. On Thursday he already reported that 80 percent of the region is in Russian hands† Before the war began, pro-Russian separatists controlled about 30 percent of the region.
• Due to Russian missile strikes on the South Ukrainian city of Odessa At least eight people have been killed and eighteen injured, it says Ukrainian President Zelensky† According to the Ukrainian Air Force, two missiles hit a military base in the city. Two others would have come down in a residential area.