Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of creating an “impression” of a ceasefire while still taking military actions in some places in Ukraine.
In the first six hours of the “Easter truce” – as ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin – Zelensky said there were 387 shellings and 19 assaults by the Russian army, and drones used 290 times. The BBC has not been able to independently verify these reports.
Putin on Saturday ordered his forces to “stop all military activity” in Ukraine for the temporary truce, to which Kyiv said it would also adhere.
Putin said the 30-hour truce would last from 18:00 Moscow time (16:00 BST) on Saturday until midnight on Sunday in Moscow.
Ukraine has proposed extending the truce for a further 30 days.
On Sunday morning, Zelensky said Moscow is “trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine.”
Accusing Russia of specific military actions, Zelensky added that “our soldiers are responding everywhere as the enemy deserves in specific combat circumstances.”
Late on Saturday – hours into the truce – he said: “If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly – mirroring Russia’s actions.”
“Our actions are and will be symmetrical. The proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day silence remains on the table — the answer to it must come from Moscow,” he wrote on X.
Zelensky said Ukraine would be ready to extend a truce beyond 20 April, seemingly referring to an earlier proposal from the US for a 30-day ceasefire which Ukraine had already agreed to.
Responding to Putin’s initial announcement, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X: “Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a cease-fire. 30 hours instead of 30 days.”
“Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions. We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words,” he added.
Putin announced the temporary truce at a meeting with his chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov.
“Based on humanitarian considerations… the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” Putin told Gerasimov.
“We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions.”
The Russian defence ministry said its troops would adhere to the ceasefire provided it was “mutually respected” by Ukraine.
It is not the first time a pause in fighting has been suddenly announced – a previous attempt at a ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 fell apart after both sides failed to agree on a proposal.
Reacting to Putin’s truce announcement, a Foreign Office spokesman in the UK said, “Now is the moment for Putin to truly show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion and committing to a full ceasefire, as the Ukrainian government has called for – not just a one-day pause for Easter.”
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