"For the first time in quite a long period, Russian-backed militants have not started armed provocations against Ukrainian defenders today, Easter Sunday. Despite the de-escalation, the ATO troops have watchfully been guarding their positions, being in full readiness to rebuff the enemy," spokesperson for the ATO headquarters Anton Myronovych said in a video address posted on the ATO HQ's official Facebook page.
He also informed that prior to Easter Sunday, Ukrainian soldiers had taken part in numerous Easter-related events. They continue to be engaged in missions to assist civilians living along the contact line in Donbas.
In particular, tonnes of humanitarian aid have been delivered to local residents, infrastructure facilities have been repaired.
On Sunday, Ukrainian soldiers attended Orthodox Christians' church services in many towns and villages of Donbas. They had their Easter cakes blessed by priests, exchanged Easter gifts and were praying for victory and peace in Ukraine, Myronovych said.
Read alsoOrthodox Christians celebrating EasterOn April 29, the Trilateral Contact Group conducted a scheduled round of the Minsk peace talks on Donbas where the sides coordinated the ceasefire regime starting from April 30.
Despite that agreement, Russian proxies attacked Ukrainian troops 27 times on April 30, using grenade launchers and large-caliber machine-guns. They also used banned 120mm mortars to shell Ukrainian positions near the village of Vodiane in the Mariupol sector.
Read alsoMilitants violate full ceasefire in Donbas on 1st day – Ukraine ex-PresidentThe ATO HQ later reported that on April 30 one Ukrainian soldier was killed in grenade shelling of areas near Svitlodarsk dam lake and seven were wounded near Svitlodarsk and industrial areas close to the town of Avdiyivka.
