Russia, Ukraine Exchange Accusations on Broken Easter Truce

Russia and Ukraine have both accused each other of violating a 30-hour Easter ceasefire that was announced by President Vladimir Putin, according to an AFP report.

The ceasefire was intended to start on Saturday evening to observe the holy holiday, yet both parties reported ongoing clashes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia conducted “hundreds of shelling and drone attacks” along the front lines despite the supposed truce. He emphasized, “The Ukrainian military is responding in kind to Russia,” and reiterated his call for a 30-day ceasefire.

While Ukrainian forces noted a decrease in activity, Russia claimed it had “successfully defended against” Ukrainian assaults and accused Kyiv of launching drone and artillery strikes against its positions in Donetsk. The Russian defense ministry insisted, “Despite the announced Easter ceasefire, Ukrainian units attempted nighttime attacks,” claiming that Russian forces maintained the ceasefire.

In Kostyantynivka, emergency services reported that a man and a woman were killed by Russian shelling the previous day. Additionally, two civilians were said to have sustained injuries in Gorlovka, located in Russian-occupied Donetsk.

Putin’s ceasefire order came after months of diplomatic efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently warned that he would halt discussions if progress was not made. On the ground, Ukrainian soldiers did observe a reduction in fighting.

A drone commander indicated that Russian activity noticeably decreased in both the Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions, though there were some minor assaults. “Today, there will be fewer lives lost,” he remarked.

Sergiy, a junior lieutenant in Ukraine, reported, “The Russian artillery isn’t firing. It’s much quieter than a typical day,” noting that Ukrainian forces remain on the defensive and only respond when attacked.

Journalists from AFP have noted a decrease in explosions in eastern Ukraine. While Putin cited “humanitarian reasons” for the truce, Zelensky stated Ukraine is ready to comply and offered a 30-day pause, which he claims has not received a response from Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that no extension order was issued.

In Kyiv, skepticism regarding Russia’s intentions remains high. “They’ve already broken their commitments,” remarked resident Olga Grachova. Meanwhile, some residents in Moscow expressed a desire for peace despite the ongoing conflict.