Despite public proclamations of a religious truce, Russian forces launched hundreds of assaults and shellings on Ukraine within hours of President Vladimir Putin’s so-called “Easter ceasefire” order, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader accused Moscow of staging a performance for the global stage, all while continuing to attack Ukrainian positions across the front lines.
The ceasefire, which was announced with little notice by Putin, was scheduled to begin at 18:00 Moscow time (16:00 BST) on Saturday and last until midnight on Sunday. The Kremlin stated the truce was introduced “out of humanitarian considerations” to honour the Orthodox Easter. Ukrainian forces also agreed to adhere to the ceasefire, but found themselves under fire almost immediately.
In the first six hours alone, Ukrainian forces reported 387 shellings, 19 ground assaults, and 290 drone deployments by Russia.
| Military Activity Reported (First 6 Hours) | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Shellings | 387 |
| Ground Assaults | 19 |
| Drone Deployments | 290 |
Zelensky condemned the Russian move as a smokescreen meant to give the illusion of cooperation while continuing the war. “Russia wants to create the impression of peace. But behind this impression lies more violence,” he said in a statement early Easter morning. No casualties have been officially reported, but the scale of the activity paints a grim picture of Kremlin sincerity.
Western officials echoed Zelensky’s scepticism. The British Foreign Office issued a statement calling on Putin to “commit to a full ceasefire,” stressing that a one-day pause during Easter is far from sufficient. “Now is the moment for Putin to truly show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion,” the statement read.
Observers have noted that the ceasefire came just after signs of growing impatience from US officials. President Donald Trump, whose envoy Steve Witkoff has met multiple times with Putin in recent weeks, signalled he might withdraw his peace-brokering efforts if there is no real progress. Trump stated, “If one of the parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say you’re fools, horrible people, and we’re going to take a pass.”
Critics argue that Putin’s gesture was more about managing perception and buying time than genuine de-escalation. As Charles Kupchan, former US National Security Council official, told BBC, “Putin wants to look like a man of peace to Trump. But giving a ceasefire while bombing your opponent is not diplomacy. It’s deception.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian churches marked Easter amid the sound of air raid sirens and defensive vigilance. At Saint Michael’s Monastery in central Kyiv, worshippers gathered for morning mass in what has become an increasingly defiant tradition of faith in the face of war.
While small scale prisoner swaps between Ukraine and Russia continue, with over 500 exchanged recently, major peace efforts remain elusive. Diplomats worry that Putin is attempting to fragment negotiations into piecemeal deals, such as agreements not to strike energy targets or limited ceasefires, instead of a comprehensive peace deal.
Putin’s terms remain unchanged since his previous demands in 2023. Russia still insists on Ukrainian neutrality, formal recognition of the annexation of Crimea, and control of all occupied Ukrainian territories, conditions Kyiv flatly rejects.
So far, Moscow has failed to demonstrate serious intent to end the war it began in 2022.
