International News Russia and Ukraine Accuse Each Other of Violating Easter Ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaching a one-day Easter ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both sides reporting hundreds of attacks. The ceasefire, intended to halt hostilities until midnight Moscow time (10 PM Irish time) on Sunday, April 20, 2025, was meant to mark Orthodox Easter, which coincides with Western Easter this year.

Putin, who launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, ordered Russian forces to cease all military activity along the front line. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia continued artillery barrages overnight and launched 26 assaults from midnight to midday local time on Sunday.

"Either Putin does not have full control over his army, or the situation proves that in Russia, they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war, and are only interested in favourable PR coverage," Zelensky wrote on X.

Russia's Claims and Counteraccusations​

Russia's Defense Ministry reported over 1,000 Ukrainian ceasefire violations, including 444 artillery attacks and more than 900 drone strikes targeting Russian positions, including Crimea and the border regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod. The ministry claimed these attacks caused civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.

Despite the accusations, Ukraine's military noted a decrease in frontline activity, a sentiment echoed by some Russian military bloggers. Independent verification of these battlefield reports remains unavailable.

International Reactions and Ceasefire Context​

The failure to uphold the Easter ceasefire underscores the challenges facing U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a lasting peace deal in what he calls the "bloodbath" of the Ukraine war. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Friday that the U.S. might abandon mediation efforts without swift progress.

Last month, Ukraine accepted Trump’s proposal for a 30-day truce, which Russia rejected due to unresolved verification issues. Both nations also agreed to pause attacks on energy targets and maritime operations, but each has accused the other of violations.

Zelensky reiterated Kyiv’s willingness to extend the ceasefire for 30 days, emphasizing that Ukraine would mirror Russia’s actions. Putin, meanwhile, instructed General Valery Gerasimov to respond "in full" to any Ukrainian violations.

"We know what we are defending. We know what we are fighting for," Zelensky said in a video posted on social media, standing before Kyiv’s Saint Sophia Cathedral.

Broader Implications​

Russia currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea (annexed in 2014) and parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Putin framed the ceasefire as a test of Ukraine’s commitment to peace, thanking Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and BRICS leaders for their mediation efforts.

The European Union expressed skepticism, noting Russia could end the war immediately if it chose to. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric reaffirmed support for efforts toward a peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As mutual distrust persists, the brief Easter truce has highlighted the deep challenges in achieving a lasting resolution to a conflict that has claimed countless lives and reshaped global geopolitics.