Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a Kremlin-declared Easter ceasefire on Sunday, as Orthodox Christians gathered to celebrate the holiday despite Moscow’s four-year-long war against its neighbour.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to abide by the ceasefire but warned there would be a swift military response to any violations.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said in a statement on Sunday that it had recorded 2,299 ceasefire violations by 7am, including assaults, shelling and small drone launches. It said that the use of long-range drones, missiles or guided bombs had not been reported.
A Ukrainian military officer told Associated Press on Saturday that Russian forces had continued to attack their positions.
Russia’s Defence Ministry also said on Sunday it had recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces, including drone strikes. The head of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said on Sunday that rescuers uncovered the bodies of two civilians who were killed in a Ukrainian attack on Saturday afternoon.
Ukrainian faithful light candles in the Church of the Archangel Saint Michael as they gather to mark Easter at the Museum of Folk Architecture and Ethnography in Pyrohovo village near Kyiv, Ukraine on Sunday. Photo: EPA
Ceasefire scepticism
Outside Kyiv, thousands gathered at an open-air national heritage park to celebrate Easter despite scepticism that a truce would hold.