Ukraine and Russia have each accused one another of hundreds of violations of a short ceasefire coinciding with Orthodox Easter celebrations. The Ukrainian military claimed that Russian forces committed 2,299 violations since the truce began on Saturday at 16:00 local time. In contrast, the Russian defense ministry stated that Ukrainian forces had committed 1,971 violations, which included three attempted counter-attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Easter should be a time of peace and indicated that his forces would respond 'symmetrically' to any attacks. Despite hopes expressed for an extension of the ceasefire, Russia dismissed the idea, confirming that military operations would resume on Monday.
The Russian military reportedly carried out 28 attacks and nearly 2,000 drone strikes during the ceasefire period, while Ukrainian authorities detailed a specific incident in the northern Sumy region where a Russian drone struck an ambulance injuring three medics. Furthermore, Ukrainian officials asserted that there were three attacks in Dnipropetrovsk and reported thwarted attempts by Russian troops to advance.
Vladimir Putin had initially announced the Easter ceasefire, rejecting Ukraine's prior requests for a temporary cessation of hostilities. Sources from both nations indicate that they managed to negotiate a prisoner swap of 175 individuals, including civilians. As the conflict continues, civilians and soldiers are witnessing a return to chaos with dwindling trust in the prospects for a lasting ceasefire.
Ultimately, while Kyiv pushes for comprehensive ceasefires as a necessary step toward peace resolution, Moscow seems to be emphasizing a peace deal first, casting doubt on the seriousness of its pursuit of an end to the ongoing conflict.
