Zelenskyy says Russia broke Easter ceasefire

Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of violating its self-declared Easter ceasefire on Sunday. He said Russian troops increased attacks despite President Vladimir Putin’s order for a 30-hour truce.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Russia launched 26 assaults between midnight and noon. The heaviest actions were reported in the Pokrovsk and Siversk areas. He also mentioned the use of kamikaze drones and heavy artillery by Russian forces.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had agreed to a matching ceasefire but observed Russia ignoring it since early morning. He added that Moscow’s actions show either Putin lacks control over his army or that Russia never intended a real pause in fighting.

The Ukrainian leader urged the international community to pressure Russia into a longer, genuine ceasefire—at least 30 days—to allow diplomacy to work. He thanked media workers and bloggers for spreading the truth about the war.

Zelenskyy also said there’s no trust in Russia’s words, noting their continued military actions in several areas. Russia’s artillery shelling and drone strikes continued despite their public claims of peace.

This is only the second ceasefire announced since the war began in 2022. The earlier attempt, during Orthodox Christmas in 2023, also failed. Russia's short truce for Easter lasted just hours, again leaving peace hopes shattered.