Ukraine and Russia trade blame over Easter ceasefire violations
Orthodox Easter celebrations in Ukraine and Russia were overshadowed as both sides reported thousands of ceasefire violations despite Moscow's 32-hour truce.
Editor2
By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukraine and Russia accused each other of violating a 32-hour Orthodox Easter ceasefire on Sunday, with both nations reporting thousands of military incidents involving shelling, assaults, and drone strikes across the frontlines.
The truce, initially proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to run from Saturday afternoon through the end of Sunday, was met with deep skepticism by Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had stated that his forces would respect the pause only if it remained unprovoked by Moscow. However, by Sunday evening, both the Ukrainian General Staff and Russian regional officials reported significant breaches of the agreement.
Escalation of frontline violations
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, Russian forces had violated the ceasefire 2,299 times. These incidents reportedly included ground assaults, heavy shelling, and the deployment of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
While the frequency of attacks was high, Ukrainian military officials noted that Russia appeared to refrain from using long-range drones, missiles, or guided aerial bombs during the period. Despite this, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that a Russian strike on a grocery store in the village of Zolochiv, Kharkiv region, caused a major fire and left two civilians injured.
In response, Moscow claimed that Ukrainian forces were responsible for 1,971 ceasefire violations. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, reported that a Ukrainian attack on Saturday afternoon resulted in the deaths of two civilians.
Easter celebrations amidst skepticism
Despite the reports of ongoing violence, thousands of Ukrainians gathered outside the capital of Kyiv at an outdoor national heritage park to observe Easter Sunday. For many attendees, the violation of the temporary truce came as no surprise.
"Whenever a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless," said Irena Bulhakova, a worshipper at the park. "But we still hope that good will defeat the darkness."
Father Roman, a chaplain for the Ukrainian military who led the blessing ceremonies, described the holiday as a reminder of the nation’s resilience.
"We are defending our borders and our identity," Father Roman said. "We are a free people living on this land with deep traditions and historical heritage."
Humanitarian visits and Russian observances
As part of the holiday observances, President Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska visited children who lost their parents in the ongoing war, according to the leader's social media accounts.
In Russia and within Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense reported that soldiers and civilians attended church services and shared traditional Easter meals. In Moscow, worshippers at the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh expressed a desire for peace, with one parishioner telling the AP that the holiday brought "hope for a better future."
The 32-hour window, which was intended to provide a brief humanitarian pause for the Orthodox faithful, concludes at midnight on Sunday, with both sides remaining in a state of high military alert.
