Ukraine and Russia Trade Accusations Over Easter Ceasefire Violations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian authorities have accused each other of breaching a one-day Easter ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, intended to pause hostilities from 18:00 Moscow time on Saturday until midnight on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
Reports of explosions in Russian-controlled Donetsk and continued frontline activity have further eroded confidence in the truce’s viability.
Ceasefire Announcement and Alleged Violations
Putin, in a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, ordered Russian forces to “stop all military activity” for humanitarian reasons, urging Kyiv to reciprocate.
“At the same time, our troops must be prepared to respond to any violations or provocations by the adversary,” he said.
Zelensky, however, reported 387 shellings, 19 assaults, and 290 drone operations by Russian forces in the truce’s first six hours, stating, “The drones in our skies show Putin’s true attitude to Easter and human lives.”
Conversely, RT war correspondent Andrey Filatov claimed Ukrainian forces in the Pokrovsk area used drones, mortars, and cluster munitions against Russian positions shortly after the ceasefire began.
Russian state media, citing TASS, reported at least three explosions in Donetsk’s Budennovsky district after 9:00 local time (06:00 GMT), attributing the attack to Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine has not commented on these allegations. Reuters could not independently verify these reports.
Regional Developments
While Donetsk faced reported blasts, Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa experienced relative calm, unlike the previous night’s air defense activity against Russian drones.
Putin accused Ukraine of violating a prior U.S.-brokered 30-day energy infrastructure truce “more than a hundred times,” while Zelensky offered to extend the Easter ceasefire for 30 days, warning, “Ukraine will continue to act in a mirror manner” if attacks continue.
International and Domestic Reactions
The European Union and United Nations expressed cautious support for peace efforts, emphasizing respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that mediation could end soon, stating, “We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable.”
In an Easter message, Zelensky urged perseverance, saying, “We know what we are defending. We know what we are fighting for.”
Explosions in Donetsk and mutual accusations of ceasefire violations highlight the persistent mistrust between Kyiv and Moscow. As both sides navigate U.S.-led peace initiatives, ongoing hostilities underscore the formidable challenges to securing a lasting pause in the conflict.