Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of hundreds of ceasefire violations

Ukraine and Russia Exchange Accusations of Ceasefire Breaches

During the Orthodox Easter ceasefire, both Ukraine and Russia have pointed fingers at each other for numerous violations. As of Sunday morning, Ukraine’s military reported that Russian forces had breached the agreement 2,299 times since its start at 16:00 local time on Saturday. This included incidents such as shooting four unarmed soldiers. In response, Russia’s defense ministry claimed Ukraine had committed 1,971 violations, highlighting three counterattacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hopes that the truce might last beyond Easter to support peace talks, which have stalled due to the Middle East conflict. He emphasized that his forces would respond “symmetrically” to Russian strikes during the ceasefire, calling Easter a “time of peace.” However, Russia dismissed the idea of extending the agreement, stating it would resume attacks on Monday.

“We hope the truce could be extended beyond Easter to facilitate peace negotiations,” Zelensky said.

According to Ukraine’s military, Russian troops launched 28 attacks and nearly 2,000 drone strikes during the ceasefire, though they avoided using bombs or missiles. In the Kharkiv region, Russian forces executed four Ukrainian soldiers after the agreement took effect, as noted by the local prosecutor’s office. This was labeled a “grave violation of international humanitarian law.” Ukraine’s military countered by stating the troops were shot after being disarmed, calling it “another war crime by Russia.”

Ukrainian authorities shared an image from a drone showing four bodies in a clearing, likely the victims of the attack. Meanwhile, in the northern Sumy region, a Russian drone reportedly struck an ambulance overnight, injuring three medics. Russia’s defense ministry alleged Ukraine had launched three overnight attacks on positions in Pokrovsk and Otradne, with four advances in Sumy and Donetsk “thwarted.”

Ceasefire Swaps and Doubtful Expectations

On Saturday, both sides announced the exchange of 175 prisoners of war, with seven civilians each. Despite the prisoner swaps, frontline Ukrainian civilians and soldiers remain skeptical about the ceasefire’s effectiveness. Kyiv has consistently advocated for a broader agreement, viewing it as essential for ending the full-scale invasion. Moscow, however, insists peace deals must come first, leading to claims that it lacks genuine commitment to the truce.

Earlier this year, Putin had agreed to a US request to pause strikes on energy infrastructure as Ukraine prepared for harsh winter conditions. This decision reflected a willingness to make temporary concessions, yet the current Easter ceasefire has seen both sides accusing each other of limited breaches in the initial hours before escalating claims.