Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of breaking one-day Easter ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for violating a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin, with both sides accusing each other of launching hundreds of attacks despite calls for a temporary halt in hostilities.

Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Sunday of violating a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both sides reporting continued hostilities and hundreds of attacks.

The temporary truce, announced by Putin on Saturday, called for all Russian military activity along the front line to halt until midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT) on Easter Sunday. However, both Moscow and Kyiv have since claimed breaches of the ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that while Russia sought to create the appearance of a ceasefire, its forces carried out numerous artillery attacks overnight and continued assaults on Sunday. In a post on the social media platform X, Zelenskyy reported 26 Russian attacks between midnight and midday local time, suggesting that Russia had no genuine intention to halt hostilities.

“Either Putin does not have full control over his army, or Russia has no interest in ending the war and is focused only on favorable PR,” Zelenskyy stated.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of violating the truce more than 1,000 times, including over 900 drone attacks and 444 strikes on Russian positions. The ministry claimed that some of these attacks caused civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in regions such as Crimea, Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.

While Ukraine’s military reported reduced activity along the front line earlier in the day, independent confirmation of battlefield developments remains unavailable. Some Russian military bloggers also acknowledged a relative decrease in fighting.

The collapse of the short-lived ceasefire highlights the ongoing challenges facing international efforts to mediate peace. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a peacemaker, recently proposed a 30-day truce. While Kyiv accepted the offer, Moscow cited unresolved issues related to verification.

Both sides have previously agreed to avoid targeting energy infrastructure and maritime routes, though each continues to accuse the other of violating those commitments.

President Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to extend the truce, but emphasized that continued Russian aggression would compel Ukrainian forces to respond.

As of now, Russia maintains control over approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and parts of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

In announcing the ceasefire, Putin stated that the gesture would test Ukraine’s readiness for peace and expressed appreciation to U.S. President Trump, China’s President Xi Jinping, and BRICS leaders for their mediation efforts.

The European Union responded cautiously to the truce, noting that Russia could end the war at any time. The United Nations reiterated its support for a comprehensive and just peace that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

With Easter falling on the same day this year for both Orthodox and Western Christian churches, President Zelenskyy encouraged Ukrainians to continue believing in the hope of a future peace.

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