In brief
As Ukraine and Russia mark a ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, accusations of violations are rampant, with each party reporting hundreds of breaches. The Ukrainian military claims 2,299 violations by Russian forces, while Russia counters with accusations against Ukraine for 1,971 violations. President Zelensky expressed hopes for a prolonged peace, but Russia intends to resume attacks following the holiday.
Ukraine and Russia have each accused one another of hundreds of violations of a short ceasefire coinciding with Orthodox Easter celebrations.
The Ukrainian military stated on Sunday morning that Russian forces had committed 2,299 violations since the truce began at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday.
The Russian defense ministry, in turn, reported that Ukrainian forces had committed 1,971 violations, including three attempted counter-attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier stated that his nation's forces would respond symmetrically to Russian attacks during the ceasefire, which he remarked should be a time of peace.
Zelensky further hoped that the truce could be extended beyond Easter to facilitate stalled peace negotiations; however, Russia dismissed this notion, declaring that attacks would resume on Monday.
According to Ukraine's military, Russian troops mounted 28 attacks and conducted nearly 2,000 drone strikes, yet they did not deploy bombs or missiles.
In the northern Sumy region, a Russian drone reportedly struck an ambulance, injuring three medics, while Russia claimed that Ukraine launched attacks on various positions throughout the conflict area.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the unilaterally declared ceasefire, having previously resisted Ukrainian requests for cessation of hostilities. Despite the holiday ceasefire, low expectations remain among civilians and soldiers regarding its effectiveness.
Both Ukrainian and Russian sources noted early violations during the truce, quickly escalating to larger claims of noncompliance. Additionally, both nations reported a simultaneous exchange of 175 prisoners of war on Saturday, including seven civilians.
The ongoing conflict, which resumed fully in 2022, has created significant mistrust, with Ukraine pushing for a more comprehensive ceasefire as a step towards a lasting peace, while Russia maintains a focus on negotiating a formal peace deal first.
