Ukraine-Russia conflict: Zelensky calls Putin’s phrases ‘empty’ as they commerce blame for breaking ‘Easter truce’

Kherson’s eerie silencerevealed at 13:40 British Summer time Time

13:40 BST

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kherson

The army have been initially reluctant to allow us to into Kherson. It appears they’re nervous about “provocation assaults” by the occupying Russian forces throughout the Dnipro River.

As soon as we have been allowed previous the town’s foremost checkpoint, we weaved via scarred streets to one among Kherson’s church buildings.

“It’s been actually quiet,” Svitlana tells us after celebrating Easter Sunday. “Hopefully this implies we are able to dwell in peace past in the present day.”

Kherson is a metropolis that has seen all of it: occupation, liberation, flooding after the destruction of a dam, and day by day shelling. Its individuals would discover any respite, and it appears they’ve.

On all my earlier visits to the town, there have been at all times common artillery exchanges between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Extra not too long ago invading troops have focused civilians with drones filled with explosives.

However not in the present day. You possibly can hear hen songs in Kherson’s central sq..

Asides from some shelling in a single day and a reported drone strike this morning, it has been quiet, we’re instructed. Artem, an area soldier, says he has by no means seen this earlier than.

Subsequent to a destroyed stadium, struck by a Russian glide bomb three days in the past, I ask him whether or not he has religion this truce will stretch past tonight?

“We are able to’t have religion, however we are able to have hope,” he replies.

The effectiveness of this truce varies throughout the entrance line, but when goes on past Russia’s midnight deadline, it could possibly be an early paving stone on a path to peace.

What’s extra probably, although, is the acquainted rhythm of this conflict resuming.