Russia and Ukraine traded accusations on Sunday of violating Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire, as Orthodox Christians gathered to celebrate the holiday during the war.
Putin, who has led Russia in its 4-year-long conflict against Ukraine, declared a 32-hour ceasefire for Easter and ordered Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. Saturday until the end of Sunday. Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, said he would have Ukraine comply as well, but warned that Kyiv would deliver a swift military response if either side violated the truce.
Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement that it recorded 2,299 ceasefire violations by 7 a.m. Sunday. The staff said the violations included assaults, shelling and small drone launches, and added that it had not reported long-range drone, missile, or guided-bomb use during that period.
Russia’s Defense Ministry, for its part, said Sunday that it recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces, including drone strikes. In addition, Russia’s Belgorod region governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said rescuers uncovered the bodies of two civilians killed in a Ukrainian attack on Saturday afternoon.
Outside Kyiv, thousands gathered at an open-air national heritage park to celebrate Easter despite skepticism that any truce would hold. Worshippers clustered outside wooden churches for the annual blessing of baskets for the holiday table, with families carrying dyed eggs and paska cakes baked the night before.
Irena Bulhakova told the Associated Press she doubted prospects for peace, saying previous attempts to secure ceasefires have had little or no effect. “Every time a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless,” she said. Despite her doubts, she said the holiday still carried meaning, adding, “Good triumphs over darkness, and we hope for that very much.”
Father Roman, a Ukrainian army chaplain who led the blessing ceremonies, described Easter as a moment of faith tied to Ukrainians’ identity. “We are defending our borders. We are defending our identity,” he said. “We are a free people who live on this territory. We have faith, deep traditions and historical heritage. It’s all about the identity of Ukrainians.”
Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena, spent Sunday visiting children who have lost parents fighting in the war. Zelenskyy wrote in an online post that the children greeted them with “smiles that are priceless” and said Ukraine must do everything to ensure children of those who made the ultimate sacrifice never lose faith in the world.