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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Russia on Sunday for its actions during what was announced as an Easter ceasefire. He asserted that despite a temporary truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, military activities, including shelling and drone strikes, continued unabated.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy remarked, “As of Easter morning, we can assert that the Russian military is attempting to create the appearance of a ceasefire, but in several areas, they do not cease individual provocations to advance and cause harm to Ukraine.”
On the same morning, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian forces had documented 59 instances of shelling and five direct assaults by Russian units along the front lines, alongside a series of drone attacks. This followed Putin’s announcement of a unilateral ceasefire on the previous day.
Later, Zelenskyy indicated that even though Ukraine had pursued a balanced response to Russia’s provocations, there was a noticeable increase in shelling and drone attacks since 10 a.m. He added some relief came from the absence of air raid sirens, suggesting a slight lull in intensity.
He further opined that the inconsistent activities of the Russian army suggested either a lack of control by Putin over his military forces or a broader reluctance within Russia to genuinely pursue peace, positioning their actions as more focused on public relations than on conflict resolution.
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Zelenskyy reiterated that Russia needs to comply fully with the ceasefire and reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to extend the temporary truce for an additional 30 days starting Sunday midnight. He emphasized that this proposal remains available for consideration, stating, “We will act in accordance with the actual situation on the ground.”
In contrast, Russia’s defense ministry accused Ukraine of launching attacks in the Donetsk region during the ceasefire, claiming that 48 drones had been directed into Russian territory. They reported casualties among civilians but did not provide specific figures, asserting that their forces adhered to the ceasefire.
Officials in the Russian-occupied sector of Kherson also reported continued hostilities from Ukrainian forces.
Shortly after declaring the ceasefire, Putin attended an Easter service in Moscow, indicating the religious significance of the occasion amidst ongoing conflict.
The Kremlin announced that the ceasefire would be observed from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday through to midnight after Easter Sunday. However, the specifics regarding the monitoring of this ceasefire or whether it enacted restrictions on airstrikes and ongoing ground battles were not detailed.
This announcement coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on Friday about a potential turning point in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, insisting that both parties are serious about seeking an end to the prolonged conflict.
Source
globalnews.ca