Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of hundreds of ceasefire violations
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of hundreds of ceasefire violations
During the Orthodox Easter ceasefire, Ukraine and Russia have exchanged accusations of numerous breaches. The Ukrainian military reported that Russian forces violated the truce 2,299 times since its start at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday, including the shooting of four unarmed soldiers. In response, Russia claimed Ukrainian forces had broken the agreement 1,971 times, citing three counter-attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his nation would retaliate “symmetrically” against Russian strikes during the truce, labeling Easter as “a time of peace.” He expressed hope that the agreement might last beyond the holiday to aid peace talks, which have slowed due to the Middle East conflict. However, Russia dismissed this, stating it would continue attacks on Monday.
Violations and Counterattacks
Russian troops launched 28 assaults and conducted nearly 2,000 drone strikes, according to Ukraine’s military, though no bombs or missiles were used. In the Kharkiv region, four Ukrainian soldiers were executed by Russian forces after the ceasefire began, as noted by the local prosecutor’s office. This was called a “grave violation of international humanitarian law.” Ukraine countered by stating the troops were shot after being disarmed, framing it as “another war crime by Russia.”
Ukrainian authorities shared a drone-captured image of four bodies in a clearing, supporting their claim of Russian aggression. Meanwhile, in the northern Sumy region, a Russian drone struck an ambulance, injuring three medics. Russia accused Ukraine of launching three overnight attacks on positions in Pokrovsk and Otradne, adding that four Ukrainian advances in Sumy and Donetsk were “thwarted.”
Prisoner Swaps and Distrust
Both sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war on Saturday, including seven civilians each. Despite this, frontline civilians and soldiers remain skeptical about the ceasefire’s effectiveness. Kyiv has advocated for a broader agreement as a prerequisite for ending the full-scale invasion, but Moscow insists on first securing a peace deal, leading to accusations of insincerity in the conflict’s resolution.
“Easter is a time of peace,” Zelensky said, emphasizing Ukraine’s readiness to respond symmetrically to Russian attacks.
“We will continue our operations on Monday,” Putin declared, reaffirming Russia’s stance on resuming military actions.
