Kiev, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Voldymiazelensky on Sunday accused Russia of creating a false appearance to celebrate the Easter ceasefire, saying Moscow continued to launch an attack overnight after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral temporary suspension in Ukraine.
“As of Easter morning, it can be said that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places they will not abandon individual attempts to advance and bring Ukraine’s losses,” Zelenkie said in a post in X.
Despite Putin’s declaration of Easter ceasefire on Saturday, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces recorded 59 instances of Russian artillery fire and five attacks by units from various regions along the frontline, with dozens of drone strikes.
Zelenskyy said Russia must fully comply with the ceasefire conditions and reiterated Ukraine’s offer to extend the ceasefire for 30 days starting midnight on Sunday.
He said the proposal “remains on the table,” adding that “we will act according to actual circumstances on the ground.”
Zelenskyy said on Saturday night that some areas have been quiet since the ceasefire was announced, claiming that Putin had shown the “real cause” of the war.
“As soon as Putin issued an order to reduce the attack, the strength of strikes and killings fell. The only source of this war and its extension lies in Russia,” he wrote to X.
Officials set up by Russia in partially occupied areas of the Ukrainian region said Ukrainian forces continued their attacks.
Just hours after announcing the ceasefire, Putin attended Easter services late on Saturday at the Cathedral of Christ in Moscow, led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and supporter of Putin and the voice of war in Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will continue from 6pm on Saturday (1500 GMT) until midnight after Easter Sunday (2100 GMT).
Putin did not provide details on how a ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover air strikes or ongoing ground combat that would infuriate around the clock.
His announcement claimed that US President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia “come in his head” and that neither side has “played” him with his push to end the Three Years’ War.
