Russia and Ukraine are blaming each other for breaking a fragile Easter truce.
Ceasefire Called into Question
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral ceasefire on Saturday, April 19, in honor of Orthodox Easter.
The truce was set to last from 6 p.m. Saturday to midnight Sunday Moscow time.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly accused Russia of violating the ceasefire with hundreds of attacks.
Conflicting Claims
Russia’s Defense Ministry countered that its forces had adhered to the ceasefire, while Ukraine’s military launched numerous attacks.
According to Russia, Ukrainian forces fired 444 shells and deployed over 900 drones against Russian positions.
Zelenskyy claimed Russia had fired 387 artillery shells and launched 19 attacks, with 290 drone strikes.
Cautious Optimism
Despite the conflicting accounts, observers noted a significant decrease in fighting along the front lines on Saturday night.
Ukrainian officials acknowledged a lull in hostilities, with no reports of Russian aircraft or drones in Ukrainian airspace.
The sudden ceasefire announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to end US efforts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump called on both sides to demonstrate their commitment to peace.
The BBC reported on the developments.