Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of intensifying attacks despite a temporary “Easter truce” declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The ceasefire, which began at 6pm on Saturday and was intended to last until midnight on Easter Sunday, was announced as a humanitarian gesture by the Kremlin.
However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed the ceasefire was either not being enforced or never intended to be genuine.
“Either Putin does not have full control over his army, or this so-called truce was just a show,” Mr Zelenskyy stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Russia’s defence ministry, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of breaching the truce more than 1,000 times — a claim that could not be independently verified.
Clashes Continue in Eastern Ukraine
Despite the declared ceasefire, several explosions were reported in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, according to state news agency TASS. Ukrainian forces also confirmed ongoing activity along the front line, reporting 59 instances of shelling and five assault attempts on Sunday morning alone.
“It is decreasing, but it hasn’t disappeared,” said Viktor Trehubov, a military spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern front. “To be honest, we didn’t hold out much hope that this would actually happen.”
READ MORE: Putin Announces Easter Truce in Ukraine Amid Ongoing Fighting
Russia claimed that Ukrainian forces had attacked its border regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod, resulting in civilian casualties. Ukraine responded that Russian shelling had continued overnight in frontline regions.
Easter in a Time of War
As the violence persisted, Ukrainians across the country marked Orthodox Easter with prayers for peace. In Bucha, the town synonymous with some of the war’s worst atrocities, residents gathered in churches and homes.
“We know what we are defending. We know what we are fighting for. For whom and for whose sake,” President Zelenskyy said in an Easter message to the nation.
“The day of peace. The day of Ukraine. A day that lasts a century… We will be able to gather together again. At one table. On a peaceful Easter.”
Easter this year was marked on the same day for both Orthodox and Western churches, adding symbolic weight to hopes for a pause in fighting.
The US Calls for Extended Ceasefire
The United States has welcomed the concept of a ceasefire and urged both sides to extend it. The US State Department said it would support any effort to reduce violence and create conditions for more serious negotiations.
“We remain committed to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire,” a spokesperson said. “As we assess their seriousness in this instance, we would welcome it extending beyond Sunday.”
So far, no official extension has been announced by Moscow. Russian state media reported that Mr Putin had not issued any directive to prolong the ceasefire beyond Sunday night.
Trump Pushes for 30-Day Truce
Former US President Donald Trump, who has expressed ambitions to bring the war to a quick end if re-elected, recently proposed a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine accepted the proposal, but Moscow rejected it, instead agreeing to limited pauses in fighting — which both sides have since accused each other of violating.
President Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s willingness to extend the truce for 30 days but warned that Kyiv would respond “in a mirror manner” if Russia continued its attacks.
Europe’s Cautious Response
The European Union responded cautiously to Russia’s ceasefire declaration, with officials stating that the Kremlin could stop the war immediately if it genuinely desired peace.
“If Moscow truly wanted peace, it would not need a symbolic truce. It could simply stop the invasion,” said an EU spokesperson.
The Path Forward
As both nations exchange accusations of ceasefire violations, hopes for peace remain fragile. Ukraine has reiterated its openness to negotiations but insists that any meaningful ceasefire must be observed in good faith.
President Zelenskyy closed his Easter message with a renewed call for unity and perseverance:
“Faith that evil may have its hour, but God will have His day. The day of life will come. The day of Ukraine will come.”
With the war now entering its third year, both the battlefield and the diplomatic stage remain volatile. Whether this short-lived Easter truce leads to more substantive talks or becomes yet another missed opportunity remains to be seen.
