Russia’s ‘Easter Truce’ Proves Hollow as Attacks Continue, Ukraine Reports

Russia has not observed the “Easter truce” it declared, according to Ukrainian officials, who reported more than 20 assaults and nearly 450 attacks by Russian forces since the ceasefire was meant to begin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the truce had yet to take effect, citing data from Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as of 6:00 a.m. on April 20.

According to the report, Russian forces carried out 59 attacks and five assault actions in various operational directions.

Clashes were recorded in several areas: one in the Starobilsk operational tactical group, three in the Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka sectors in the Donetsk region, and one in the Stepove area of the Zaporizhzhia direction.

Between 6:00 p.m. on April 19—when the Russian-announced “Easter truce” was supposed to start—and midnight, Ukrainian forces registered 387 shelling incidents and 19 Russian assault operations.

President Zelensky noted that while hostilities have slightly decreased overall by Easter morning, Russian forces continue to attempt advances and inflict losses in some frontline areas.

“Russia must fully comply with the ceasefire conditions. Ukraine’s proposal to implement and extend the truce for 30 days after midnight remains valid. We will respond according to the real situation on the ground,” Zelensky said.

Meanwhile, Nazar Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group, told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that Ukrainian troops are strictly adhering to a defensive posture and only respond to Russian attacks.

“We are conducting a defensive operation and responding only to enemy attacks and assault actions, as well as to Russian fire on our positions (in the context of the so-called ‘truce’ declared by Putin),” Voloshyn said.

Previous ‘Truces’

This is not the first time Russia has announced a “holiday truce” since the start of its full-scale invasion, only to violate it shortly after. In January 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to implement a “Christmas truce,” but hostilities continued.

More than 30 violations of the so-called “energy truce” and “maritime truce” by Russian forces have also been recorded. These agreements were reached during U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh on March 24, 2025.

The developments come amid U.S. warnings that Washington may withdraw from mediation efforts in the peace process if no clear and mutually supported path to resolution is found.