Why it matters:
The accusations highlight the deep mistrust and ongoing hostilities between the two nations, even during religious holidays, undermining any potential for diplomatic progress and further endangering civilian lives.
What they're saying:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia only pretended to observe the Easter ceasefire, claiming Russian forces launched hundreds of artillery strikes Saturday night and continued attacks into Sunday.“Either Putin has lost control over his army, or this shows Russia has no real intention of ending the war — it only seeks favorable media coverage,” Zelensky wrote on X, noting that at least 26 strikes were recorded after midnight.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense accused Ukraine of violating the truce over a thousand times, claiming attacks targeted critical infrastructure and killed civilians.The ministry reported that Ukrainian forces launched 444 assaults on Russian positions and carried out over 900 drone attacks on regions including Crimea, Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.
Key points:
- Despite a ceasefire declared by Russia for Easter, both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaching the truce with extensive artillery and drone attacks.
- The failure of the Easter ceasefire highlights the fragility of temporary humanitarian pauses in the conflict, showing neither side is willing to trust or de-escalate, even on religious holidays.
- The conflicting narratives—Russia framing Ukraine as the aggressor and Ukraine accusing Russia of using the ceasefire for propaganda—underscore the growing information warfare that accompanies the physical conflict.
Go deeper:
President Putin’s announcement on Saturday suggested a temporary truce to mark the Easter holiday, expecting a mutual pause in combat. However, both sides exchanged reports of widespread attacks, with each claiming to be acting in self-defense. The conflicting narratives reinforce the entrenched hostility and the complex information war between the two nations. Analysts warn that symbolic ceasefires, when violated, can deepen mistrust and further complicate peace negotiations.
ahmad shirzadian
