Ukraine, Russia Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violations During Easter Truce

Both sides report thousands of breaches as civilians observe holiday amid ongoing conflict.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Ukraine and Russia accused each other of repeatedly violating a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire on Sunday, as religious observances continued across Ukraine despite ongoing hostilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary 32-hour halt in fighting beginning Saturday afternoon and extending through Orthodox Easter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would honor the pause but warned that any violations would be met with immediate military response.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported that by early Sunday morning it had documented 2,299 violations of the ceasefire. The incidents included ground assaults, artillery shelling and the use of small drones. Ukrainian officials stated that there were no confirmed uses of long-range drones, missiles or guided aerial bombs during that period.

A Ukrainian military officer said Russian forces continued offensive actions despite the declared truce.

Russia’s Defense Ministry issued its own assessment, reporting 1,971 violations by Ukrainian forces, including drone-related attacks. Regional officials in Russia also reported casualties. Vyacheslav Gladkov said emergency personnel recovered the bodies of two civilians following an attack in the Belgorod region on Saturday.

The competing claims underscore the difficulty of enforcing temporary ceasefires during the prolonged conflict, now in its fourth year.

In Ukraine, Easter observances proceeded amid uncertainty over the stability of the truce. Near Kyiv, large crowds gathered at an open-air cultural site to mark the holiday. Attendees participated in traditional ceremonies, including the blessing of food baskets filled with dyed eggs and paska bread.

Despite the celebrations, skepticism remained among civilians regarding the likelihood of a sustained pause in fighting. Irena Bulhakova, one of the attendees, said previous ceasefire announcements had not led to lasting reductions in violence.

“Every time a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless,” she said.

She added that the holiday still carried symbolic importance. “Good triumphs over darkness, and we hope for that very much.”

The situation highlights continued instability along the front lines, with both sides reporting ongoing engagements despite formal declarations of temporary ceasefires tied to religious observances.