Ukraine, Russia trade accusations of violating Easter cease-fire

Rescuers from Ukraine were seen at the location of a missile attack in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, during the Russian invasion on April 13, 2025. A photo captured by the Ukrainian Emergency Service shows their efforts.

On April 21, allegations were exchanged between Ukraine and Russia over the violation of a one-day Easter truce, which was declared by Moscow a day earlier but has now ended. President Vladimir Putin had announced the 30-hour Easter Truce on Saturday, intending for it to last until Sunday night.

As Sunday came to a close, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine took to social media to accuse Russia of breaking the truce nearly 3,000 times. He mentioned that Kyiv was meticulously recording each breach of the self-declared cease-fire by Russia and criticized Moscow for what he perceived as insincere motives behind the temporary halt in hostilities.

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s response would mirror the actions of the opposing side, stating that Russian strikes would be met with corresponding defensive measures. He highlighted the importance of actions over mere words.

Amid these accusations, Russia also accused Ukraine of violating the cease-fire. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that while their forces had strictly adhered to the truce since Saturday evening, Ukraine had breached it over 1,000 times during the night, resulting in casualties among civilians.

Zelensky continued to advocate for an extension of the cease-fire for 30 days or, at the very least, an end to long-range drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure during that period. He warned that Russia’s response to this proposal would reveal its true intentions regarding the conflict.