The Easter truce was to apply for 32 hours during the Orthodox Easter. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to abide by the ceasefire, describing it as an opportunity to build on peace initiatives, but warned there would be a swift military response to any violations.
Hours before the ceasefire was due to begin, Russian drone strikes overnight killed at least two people in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, local authorities reported. A further two people were wounded in the attack on Odesa, when drones hit a residential area, damaging apartment buildings, houses and a kindergarten. The driver of a public trolley bus was killed after the vehicle was struck by a drone in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, less than an hour before the start of the ceasefire, according to Kherson regional head Oleksandr Prokudin. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia targeted Ukraine with 160 drones overnight, of which 133 were shot down or intercepted, hours before a proposed Easter ceasefire was due to come into force.
Ukraine’s military command said on Saturday night that there had been 469 truce violations. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in a statement Sunday that it had recorded 2,299 ceasefire violations by 7 a.m. local time, including assaults, shelling and small drone launches, but not long-range drones, missiles, or guided bombs. Ukrainian military spokesman Viktor Trehubov said there had also been Russian military assaults in several eastern areas after the Russian ceasefire officially came into force at midnight Moscow time (21:00 GMT on Wednesday).
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Sunday it had recorded 1,971 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces, including drone strikes on Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions that injured civilians. Russia's defence ministry insisted the ceasefire - called by Vladimir Putin to mark World War Two Victory Day - was being observed and accused Ukraine of 488 violations. Russia's defence ministry said all groups of Russian forces in Ukraine had completely ceased combat operations and remained on the previously occupied lines and positions. The ministry added they were reacting in a mirror-like manner to violations by Ukrainian forces.
At least one person was killed in Ukraine's northern Sumy region following Russian strikes, according to emergency services. Ukraine's air force said there had been no drone or missile strikes in its airspace overnight as of 08:00 (05:00 GMT) on Thursday, although Russia had intensified strikes using air-launched glide bombs in the Sumy area. Buildings were hit in a residential area of Bilopillia, a town in Sumy just south of the Russian border. Rescuers freed a woman trapped under the rubble, emergency services said.
Kyiv has rejected Russia's truce, with Volodymyr Zelensky calling it a theatrical show designed to protect the Moscow Victory Day parade on Friday. The Ukrainian president has reiterated calls for a longer truce of at least 30 days. Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he considers discussions with the U.S. on security guarantees concluded. Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia's unilateral, three-day ceasefire has proved to be a farce because of continued attacks across the front line. Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of 734 violations since its truce came into effect overnight into Thursday, adding that Ukraine was responding appropriately to every attack.
The Kremlin has described its pause as a test of Ukraine's readiness for peace, although Putin earlier rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. Since his inauguration in January, President Donald Trump has sought to end the war in Ukraine by mediating with both parties - but he has been accused of trying to pressure Ukraine into making painful concessions to secure a peace deal. U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has drastically reduced military aid to Kyiv, has repeatedly said that it is primarily up to Europe to help maintain sustainable peace in Ukraine.
The specific incidents constituting the reported ceasefire violations, such as exact locations and types of attacks, remain unclear. Casualty totals from violations during the Easter and other recent ceasefires have not been fully confirmed, with emergency services reporting at least one death in Sumy but broader figures unavailable. The exact terms and monitoring mechanisms of proposed European-led security guarantees for Ukraine are also unknown, as are the current status and next steps in US-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.