Despite an Easter truce announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, violence once again overshadowed hopes for peace, as Russia on Sunday accused Ukraine of launching multiple attacks overnight across several fronts.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, Ukrainian forces allegedly attempted to advance on Russian-held positions in the villages of Sukha Balka and Bogatyr in the eastern Donetsk region—areas controlled by Moscow. The attacks, they claimed, were repelled.
“Despite the announcement of the Easter truce, Ukrainian units made attempts to attack Russian positions,” the ministry stated during a daily briefing.
The situation wasn’t limited to the front lines in Donetsk. Russian officials also reported drone and artillery attacks in several western border regions, including Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod. The Defence Ministry said these attacks resulted in civilian casualties, though it did not provide specific numbers.
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When the truce was first declared on Saturday, President Putin instructed his troops to observe the ceasefire strictly, but also to retaliate if Ukrainian forces violated it.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had responded by confirming that Ukrainian forces would observe the truce—but warned that they would react “symmetrically” if attacked.
On Sunday, Zelensky stated that Russian attacks had continued despite the truce, reinforcing Ukraine’s position that the war’s intensity had not abated.
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Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its troops had fully complied with the ceasefire from 1500 GMT on Saturday, maintaining their positions and refraining from offensive actions.
However, the ministry accused Ukraine of launching a total of 48 drones—including one in Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014—as well as conducting over 900 drone and artillery strikes across front-line positions.
While both sides accuse the other of violating the truce, the reality on the ground appears grim: the brief glimmer of hope brought on by a holiday ceasefire has quickly given way to the same hostilities that have marked this conflict for over two years.
For many, the Easter weekend was meant to offer a symbolic pause, an opportunity for reflection and perhaps even reconciliation. But instead, it has served as a harsh reminder that peace remains elusive, and trust between the warring nations is as fragile as ever.
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