Thousands of ceasefire violations reported as Ukraine, Russia claim breaches of Putin’s holiday pause

(SeaPRwire) –   Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations of hundreds of attacks on Sunday, raising doubts about a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire that appeared to be faltering less than a day after its commencement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter holiday, instructing his forces to cease fighting from Saturday afternoon through Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to observe the pause but cautioned that Kyiv would swiftly retaliate against any breaches.

However, the holiday ceasefire seemed to be short-lived.

Ukraine’s military reported logging 2,299 ceasefire violations by early Sunday morning, encompassing assaults, shelling, and small drone activity, although it noted the absence of long-range drones, missiles, or guided bombs.

A Ukrainian officer informed The Associated Press that Russian troops continued their attacks on positions despite the declared truce.

Russia’s Defense Ministry countered by accusing Ukrainian forces of 1,971 violations, including drone strikes in the border regions of Kursk and Belgorod that allegedly resulted in civilian injuries.

The head of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, stated on Sunday that the bodies of two civilians had been recovered following an alleged Ukrainian attack on Saturday.

These conflicting claims underscore the profound distrust between the two sides and highlight the challenges in enforcing even temporary halts in hostilities.

Previous ceasefire attempts have quickly collapsed, with both nations routinely assigning blame to each other. A similar truce declared by Putin last Easter also fell apart amid mutual accusations of violations.

Irena Bulhakova told The Associated Press at a holiday gathering outside Kyiv that she harbored doubts about any ceasefires as Russia’s four-year war on Ukraine continues.

“Every time a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless,” she remarked.

Reflecting on the significance of the Orthodox Easter holiday, she added: “Good triumphs over darkness, and we hope for that very much.”