On April 21, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that with the end of the temporary cease - fire for Orthodox Easter, the Russian military continued its special military operation. On the same day, the leader of Ukraine posted on social media, indicating that Ukraine would respond in kind, that is, 'cease - fire in response to cease - fire, attack in response to attack'.
According to the information released by the Russian Defense Ministry on social media that day, all Russian forces in the special military operation area strictly adhered to the cease - fire order and remained in their previously occupied positions. After the end of the temporary cease - fire, the Russian military launched attacks on Ukrainian forces in areas such as Sumy Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, Donetsk region, and Zaporizhzhia region, causing varying degrees of losses to Ukrainian personnel and weapons and equipment. The Russian military's operational - tactical aviation, drones, missile, and artillery units damaged military airports, ammunition and drone warehouses, and temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian military in 74 areas. In addition, the Russian air - defense system shot down 104 drones.
The information also mentioned that during the temporary cease - fire, the Ukrainian military violated the cease - fire proposal and repeatedly attempted to launch attacks on areas such as the Donetsk region and Kursk Oblast, but all were repelled.
On that day, the leader of Ukraine called on Russia to implement a full - scale cease - fire for the next 30 days after Easter on social media. Ukraine would also respond in kind to Russia's actions, 'cease - fire in response to cease - fire, attack in response to attack'.
In the morning of April 21, the Ukrainian Air Force posted on social media that in the early hours of that day, the Russian military launched 3 missiles from Crimea and the Black Sea towards Kherson Oblast and Mykolaiv Oblast. In addition, the Russian military also launched 96 drones from areas such as Rostov Oblast, Kursk Oblast, and Bryansk Oblast into Ukrainian territory.
On April 19, when meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, the Russian President said that in the coming of Easter on the 20th, from 18:00 on the 19th to 00:00 on the 21st, the Russian military would halt all combat operations. Russia hoped that Ukraine would follow suit.
