The Kremlin continues to set the stage for possible future aggression against the Baltic states. On April 7, Russian Foreign Ministry (MFA) spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that the Russian government had issued a warning to the Baltic states regarding their decision to allow Ukrainian drones to operate in their airspace.
Zakharova threatened that Russia would take unspecified "retaliatory measures" if the Baltic states did not heed the Kremlin's warning.
This was summarized by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Deputies from the Russian State Duma also accused the Baltic states of committing acts of aggression against Russia by being "accomplices" in Ukrainian drone operations against Russia, and stated that Russian forces would destroy any suspected Ukrainian drones in the airspace of the Baltic states and may impose indefinite "blockades" on them.
The Kremlin is likely setting conditions to use these allegations as a basis for military action in the airspace over one or more of the Baltic states.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness to declare a ceasefire during the Easter holidays and/or to cease attacks on energy infrastructure.
On April 6, Zelensky stated that Ukraine was ready to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Russia reciprocated, and reiterated his proposal for a temporary ceasefire during the Easter holidays (likely Orthodox Easter on April 12), including a specific moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure.
Zelensky stated that the United States had already conveyed Ukraine's proposal to Russia and that the United States was working with Ukraine to formalize security guarantees that would accompany the moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure.
Zelensky continues to offer concessions and demonstrate Ukraine’s willingness to make significant compromises.
In stark contrast, Russian officials have consistently rejected Ukrainian ceasefire proposals, including Zelensky’s recent proposal for an Easter truce, and it is unlikely that Russia will accept Zelensky’s proposal for an energy truce.
Kremlin considering replacing three Russian governors before the September 2026 elections.
Three sources close to the Russian president’s administration told the Russian economic newspaper "Vedomosti" on April 6 that Russian authorities are discussing replacing Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz, and the head of the Republic of Dagestan Sergey Melikov.
Belgorod and Bryansk Oblasts border Ukraine and have suffered from the consequences of the war, as has neighboring Kursk Oblast.
The Kremlin is likely turning local authorities into scapegoats for failing to protect Russian border regions from Ukrainian attacks and natural disasters such as the floods in Dagestan.
The Kremlin is persecuting and scapegoating former officials from the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions for its own failures to adequately respond to the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region in 2024 and to Ukrainian cross-border attacks in 2023 and 2024.
Russian forces continue to carry out drone strikes deliberately targeting civilians in southern Ukraine, using civilian casualties as a deliberate means of waging war.
Russian forces have launched 110 drones into Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces have recently advanced towards Slavyansk.
Ukrainian forces have struck oil infrastructure in the Leningrad region and a refinery in defense industry in the Voronezh region.