Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of hundreds of ceasefire violations
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of hundreds of ceasefire violations
During the brief Easter ceasefire, both Ukraine and Russia have launched accusations against each other, citing numerous breaches of the agreement. The Ukrainian military reported that Russian forces had committed 2,299 violations since the pause began at 16:00 local time on Saturday, including the shooting of four unarmed soldiers. In response, the Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian troops had breached the truce 1,971 times, with three counter-attacks attempted in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Zelensky’s stance and Russia’s rejection
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the truce could be prolonged beyond Easter to support ongoing peace talks, which have been stalling. However, Russia dismissed this idea, stating it would resume attacks on Monday. The conflict, now in its third year, has seen persistent tensions as both sides prepare to test the ceasefire’s durability.
“Easter is a time of peace,” Zelensky remarked, adding that his forces would respond “symmetrically” to Russian strikes during the pause.
According to Ukraine’s military, Russian troops executed four Ukrainian soldiers in the Kharkiv region after the ceasefire took effect. The local prosecutor’s office labeled this a “grave violation of international humanitarian law.” Ukraine countered by stating the soldiers were shot after being disarmed, calling it “another war crime by Russia.”
Ukrainian authorities released what appears to be a drone-captured image of four bodies lying in a field, reinforcing their claims. Meanwhile, in the Sumy region, a Russian drone struck an ambulance overnight, injuring three medics. Russia claimed that Ukraine had launched three attacks on Pokrovsk and Otradne areas during the same period, though its forces managed to halt these advances.
Prisoner exchanges and stalled negotiations
On Saturday, both sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war, with seven civilians included in each group. Despite this gesture, the conflict remains unresolved, with Ukrainian and Russian officials continuing to dispute the ceasefire’s effectiveness. Earlier this year, Putin had agreed to a temporary halt on energy strikes after the US requested it to ease the impact of harsh winter conditions on Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Easter ceasefire, but the agreement has faced challenges from the outset. Ukrainian forces and Russian troops each accused the other of limited violations in the first few hours of the truce before escalating their claims. Kyiv has consistently advocated for a broader ceasefire as a prerequisite for ending the war, while Moscow insists on securing a peace deal first, leading to skepticism about its commitment to the truce.