Zelenskyy Challenges Russia's Easter Ceasefire Claims Amid Ongoing Attacks

Ukrainian President's Response to Russia's Ceasefire Declaration

Kyiv: On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of fabricating a façade of compliance with an Easter ceasefire, asserting that Moscow continued its assaults overnight despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a temporary truce in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stated, "As of Easter morning, it is evident that the Russian military is attempting to create a general perception of a ceasefire, yet in certain areas, they persist with attempts to advance and cause casualties in Ukraine," in a post shared on X.

Following Putin's Easter ceasefire declaration on Saturday, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian forces documented 59 instances of Russian shelling and five assaults from various units along the front lines, in addition to numerous drone strikes.

He stressed the necessity for Russia to fully comply with the ceasefire terms and reiterated Ukraine's willingness to extend the truce for an additional 30 days, beginning at midnight on Sunday.

Zelenskyy remarked that the proposal "remains on the table," indicating that actions would be determined based on the actual circumstances on the ground.

In the partially occupied Kherson region, officials appointed by Russia claimed that Ukrainian forces continued their offensive actions.

Moscow-appointed governor Vladimir Saldo noted on his Telegram channel, "Ukrainian troops are still targeting civilian areas in the Kherson region, breaching the Easter truce."

Shortly after Putin's ceasefire announcement, he participated in an Easter service at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, led by Patriarch Kirill, a prominent supporter of both Putin and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Putin's ceasefire was declared for humanitarian reasons, with the Kremlin stating it would be effective from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.

However, no specifics were provided regarding the monitoring of the ceasefire or whether it would encompass airstrikes or the continuous ground battles that persist.

This ceasefire announcement followed U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks on Friday, indicating that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were nearing a critical point and asserting that neither side was attempting to deceive him in his efforts to conclude the protracted three-year conflict.