Russia and Ukraine Level Accusations of Violating Easter Ceasefire
An Easter ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly unraveled on Sunday, as both Moscow and Kyiv accused one another of breaching the short-lived halt in hostilities.
TroibNews 
An Easter ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly collapsed on Sunday, as both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of breaching the brief pause in hostilities.
Putin announced the pause shortly before Orthodox Easter celebrations. However, by midday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces had conducted 26 attacks since the ceasefire took effect.
"Russia is only pretending to observe the ceasefire," Zelenskyy stated on social media. "Either Putin doesn't control his military, or he's only interested in positive PR—not peace."
In response, Russia’s Defence Ministry accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire over 1,000 times, asserting that Ukrainian forces had launched 444 attacks on Russian positions and executed over 900 drone strikes, including in Crimea and regions along the Russian border.
Both sides reported instances of damage and civilian casualties, but independent verification of these claims is lacking. Ukrainian military officials indicated a general decrease in activity on the front lines, a sentiment echoed by some Russian military bloggers.
The unsuccessful ceasefire further complicates U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to mediate a peace agreement. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that the U.S. might withdraw from mediation if progress is not evident soon.
Trump recently supported a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has tentatively accepted. Meanwhile, Putin pointed to unresolved verification issues and instructed Russian forces to be prepared to react should Ukraine infringe upon the truce.
Despite previous agreements to refrain from targeting energy infrastructure and maritime routes, both parties continue to exchange accusations of violations.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
Putin announced the pause shortly before Orthodox Easter celebrations. However, by midday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces had conducted 26 attacks since the ceasefire took effect.
"Russia is only pretending to observe the ceasefire," Zelenskyy stated on social media. "Either Putin doesn't control his military, or he's only interested in positive PR—not peace."
In response, Russia’s Defence Ministry accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire over 1,000 times, asserting that Ukrainian forces had launched 444 attacks on Russian positions and executed over 900 drone strikes, including in Crimea and regions along the Russian border.
Both sides reported instances of damage and civilian casualties, but independent verification of these claims is lacking. Ukrainian military officials indicated a general decrease in activity on the front lines, a sentiment echoed by some Russian military bloggers.
The unsuccessful ceasefire further complicates U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to mediate a peace agreement. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that the U.S. might withdraw from mediation if progress is not evident soon.
Trump recently supported a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has tentatively accepted. Meanwhile, Putin pointed to unresolved verification issues and instructed Russian forces to be prepared to react should Ukraine infringe upon the truce.
Despite previous agreements to refrain from targeting energy infrastructure and maritime routes, both parties continue to exchange accusations of violations.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
