Moscow and Kyiv continued to engage in hostilities ahead of a planned Easter ceasefire set to take hold on Saturday afternoon.

Russia's war of aggression against  Ukraine has dragged on into its fifth year, while US efforts to halt the conflict have withered significantly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that Kyiv would pause its defense if Russia stops attacking over the Orthodox Christian holiday.

Moscow, which launched the war on February 24, 2022, has announced that it has ordered a temporary 36-hour break in its assaults between Saturday at 4:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) and midnight Sunday, as a "humanitarian gesture."

Strikes continue ahead of planned Easter truce

Despite the pending break in the action, attacks continued overnight and into Saturday.

Authorities in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, for instance, reported that two people had been killed and several more injured when Russian drones struck residential buildings and a kindergarten in the Black Sea port.

In the central Ukrainian city of Poltava, a "hostile drone attack" killed one person and injured another in a strike that hit a shop and cafe.

Another attack in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy targeted several residential areas, injuring 14 people including a 14-year-old and an 87-year-old.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Saturday that it had shot down 99 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Drone debris reportedly fell on ⁠an oil ​depot ​in the ​Russian ‌town of Krymsk, causing ‌a fire, local ‌authorities ​said on Saturday, but no information about further damage has been given.

Russia's 'humanitarian gesture' echoes last year's flawed pause

This weekend's temporary pause in fighting comes as supposed US efforts to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine seem to have evaporated, with the US-Israeli war on Iran now occupying Washington's attention.

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a similar ceasefire over the Orthodox holiday, though both sides reported numerous violations.

Once again, both Moscow and Kyiv have vowed to respond to any aggression during this year's 36-hour intermission.

Edited by: Karl Sexton