Russia and Ukraine exchange accusations of violating the Easter ceasefire

On Sunday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations of violating the ceasefire announced by the Kremlin on the occasion of Easter, which entered into force less than 24 hours ago.

Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour ceasefire during the Easter holiday, and ordered Russian forces to cease hostilities from 4 p.m. yesterday, Saturday, until the end of the day, Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to adhere to the ceasefire, but warned of a quick military response to any violations.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said, in a statement on Sunday, that 2,299 ceasefire violations had been recorded by 7 a.m. local time, including attacks, bombings, and the launching of small drones.

The authority added that no use of long-range drones, missiles or guided bombs has been reported.

A Ukrainian military officer told the Associated Press on Saturday that Russian forces continued to attack their positions.

For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced, in a statement today, Sunday, that the Ukrainian armed forces violated the ceasefire that was announced on Easter 1971 times, from the time it was announced until eight o’clock on Sunday morning.

The statement said, “In accordance with the order of the Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin, all groups of forces in the area of ​​the special military operation strictly adhered to the ceasefire, starting at 16:00 pm on April 11, and remained in their lines and positions that they had previously controlled,” according to what the Russian Sputnik news agency reported.

The statement added, “Despite the announcement of a ceasefire on Easter, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched three night attacks on the positions of Russian forces from the Pokrovskoye region towards the towns of Gai (twice) and Otradnoye in the Dnepropetrovsk Oblast. All attacks were repelled.”