Ukraine and Russia both marked Orthodox Easter on Sunday by accusing each other of thousands of violations of an agreed Easter ceasefire.
In Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended a service at the city’s St. Sophia Cathedral, during which he praised his country for withstanding Russian aggression for more than four years, saying: “We rely not only on the heavenly powers, but also on our own security and defense forces.”
In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the Russian Orthodox Church’s role in supporting the “special military operation” in Ukraine in an Easter address at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
Holding a candle, Putin said he had ordered a temporary ceasefire so Orthodox Christians in both Russia and Ukraine could celebrate Easter, but both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire.
Easter ceasefire: Ukraine, Russia accused of thousands of violations
Ukraine’s armed forces have reported 2,299 violations since Saturday, including 479 cases of artillery firing and about 1,800 small drone strikes. “There was no attack by rockets, glide bombs or broken drones,” the army said.
The Russian Defense Ministry also accused Ukraine of 1,971 ceasefire violations between Saturday evening and Sunday morning – including in the Pokrovsk sector of the front in eastern Ukraine. “All attacks were foiled,” a statement claimed.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would not extend the Easter ceasefire unless Ukraine accepts Moscow’s peace terms.
“Lasting peace can come only when we secure our interests and achieve our set goals from the beginning,” he said in quotes carried by Russian news agencies.
“This can be done literally today. But Zelensky must accept these well-known solutions. Until Zelensky must have the courage to assume this responsibility, special military operations will continue after the truth is out.”
Peskov said Russian troops still wanted to take control of the remaining “17%-18%” of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk, which is still under Ukrainian control, state news agency TASS reported.
Edited by: Jennifer Cimino Gonzalez