The Easter truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 19, 2025, was meant to bring a brief pause to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, but both sides have accused each other of violations, escalating tensions further.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 30-hour ceasefire starting at 6:00 PM Moscow time on Saturday, April 19, 2025, and lasting until midnight on Monday, April 21, hoping to observe the Orthodox Easter holiday with a pause in hostilities. Putin expressed hope that Kiev would demonstrate goodwill and adhere to the ceasefire, instructing Russian forces to remain on high alert for any violations or provocations, as reported by RT.
BREAKING: 🚨 Putin declares TRUCE for Easter with Ukraine.pic.twitter.com/B2i7BB5ssC
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) April 19, 2025
However, Rodion Miroshnik, a senior diplomat at the Russian Foreign Ministry, claimed that Ukraine committed several violations of the Easter truce. Overnight, Ukrainian forces allegedly attacked a suburb of Kremennaya in Russia’s Lugansk People’s Republic. On Sunday morning, Gorlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic was targeted with four 155mm shells, and there were attempts to strike the regional capital, Donetsk. In the Kherson region, settlements like Aleshki, Golaya Pristan, and Kakhovka were hit by drones and mortars after the truce took effect, Miroshnik reported.
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of breaching the truce, stating on X that between 6:00 PM Saturday and midnight Sunday, there were 387 instances of shelling and 19 assaults by Russian forces. Zelensky suggested that the truce was either a PR stunt by Putin or evidence that he lacks control over his military, according to The Guardian.
Russia’s Defense Ministry countered these claims, asserting that its forces strictly observed the ceasefire, while accusing Ukraine of over 1,300 violations, including 48 drone attacks and 444 strikes on Russian positions, as noted in posts on X. Both sides have called for an extension of the truce—Zelensky proposed a 30-day ceasefire, an idea initially floated by U.S. President Donald Trump in March 2025, which Putin had accepted for energy infrastructure strikes but not fully implemented.
The failure of this Easter truce highlights the deep mistrust between the two nations, with each accusing the other of exploiting the ceasefire for tactical advantage. As reports of violations continue to emerge, the prospects for a lasting peace remain uncertain.
Easter Truce Violations, Ukraine Russia Conflict 2025, Ceasefire Breakdown
Author: Planet-Today.com Source: RT, ExxAlerts on X