Ukraine Says Russia Violated Easter Truce
Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraine's 65th Mechanized Brigade via AP
Ukraine said it did not take long for Russia to violate a ceasefire both sides had agreed to for the Orthodox Easter holiday. A Ukrainian military officer told the Associated Press that although artillery fire had stopped in his sector, Russian drone attacks continued Saturday after the truce was supposed to begin.
Serhii Kolesnychenko, a communications officer with Ukraine’s 148th Separate Artillery Brigade, said Ukrainian forces were responding cautiously. “Silence to silence and fire to fire,” he said, describing how Ukrainian troops are matching Russia’s actions while attempting to follow the ceasefire terms.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in online posts that an Easter truce could be the start of “real movement toward peace,” but he also warned that Ukraine remains wary. “We all understand who we are dealing with,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind.”
Earlier Saturday, officials also announced a prisoner exchange between the two countries. A total of 175 Russian soldiers were released, along with 175 Ukrainian soldiers and seven Ukrainian civilians. Zelensky said many of the Ukrainians had been held since 2022 and described their return as long overdue. “Most have been in captivity since 2022. And finally—home,” he said.
Days earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a temporary pause in military operations for the Orthodox Easter holiday, mirroring a ceasefire proposal from Kyiv. The Kremlin said the truce would begin at 4 p.m. Saturday Moscow time and last until the end of Sunday in recognition of the approaching holiday.
Russia’s General Staff was instructed to halt combat operations in all directions during that period, while troops were told to remain ready in case of what Moscow called possible provocations.
Zelensky had previously said he submitted a holiday ceasefire plan through the United States, as efforts to negotiate an end to the four-year war have stalled. The Kremlin said it expected Ukraine to follow Russia’s example.
Past attempts at holiday ceasefires have produced limited results. Last Easter, Putin declared a 30-hour pause in fighting, but both sides accused each other of violating the agreement.
About Post Author
