Easter truce falters as Ukraine and Russia trade violation claims

Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of widespread violations of an Orthodox Easter ceasefire just hours after it came into force. Kyiv said its forces recorded 2,299 breaches by early Sunday, while Moscow claimed Ukraine had violated the truce 1,971 times within a similar timeframe.

The temporary 32-hour ceasefire, announced by Russia from Saturday afternoon through Sunday, followed calls from Ukraine for a pause in fighting over the religious holiday. Despite the truce, both sides reported continued hostilities, casting doubt on its effectiveness.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would respect the ceasefire but respond proportionately to any attacks. “If there are no Russian strikes, there will be no response,” he stated, while stressing that Ukrainian units retain the right to defend themselves.

The ceasefire coincided with a prisoner swap, with both sides exchanging 175 prisoners of war, offering a rare moment of cooperation amid ongoing conflict.

via Politico

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