Nobody expected to see this.
KYIV, Ukraine — Despite international hopes for a pause in hostilities during the sacred Easter holiday, Russian forces launched new attacks on Ukrainian territory, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The move has sparked renewed outrage over what appears to be a blatant violation of a ceasefire that Moscow itself announced just hours earlier.
On Sunday morning, Zelensky stated that while the Kremlin claimed it was halting combat operations for Easter, Russian troops continued artillery and drone strikes, particularly near Pokrovsk and Siversk—two key fronts in the eastern war zone.
“They want to look like they’re honoring peace while still trying to kill Ukrainians,” Zelensky said in a message posted on X.
Putin’s “Peace” Message Contradicted by On-the-Ground Attacks
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a temporary Easter truce. He said the Russian Armed Forces would cease hostilities until Sunday evening, citing “humanitarian considerations.” Putin even appeared publicly at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour for Easter services, reinforcing his call for a peaceful holiday.
But within hours, reports of shelling and drone warfare by Russian troops painted a very different picture.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine repelled multiple assaults and is actively documenting every violation of the ceasefire. He stressed that Ukrainian intelligence is compiling the data to share with international allies—proof, he says, that Russia is not serious about peace.
“This was not a ceasefire,” Zelensky said. “It was a media stunt.”
Conservative Take: Putin’s Ceasefire Was a Political Charade
For many seasoned observers, especially among faith-based and patriotic Americans, Putin’s so-called truce looks more like a cynical propaganda ploy than a genuine act of goodwill.
Critics argue this is yet another example of the Kremlin using religion and tradition as a smokescreen—a strategy that plays well on state TV but doesn’t hold up on the battlefield.
Zelensky also raised the possibility that Putin may have lost control of his own army, or worse, that the Russian leadership never intended to stop fighting at all. Either way, the Ukrainian president said diplomacy remains on the table, but only if Moscow takes real steps toward peace.
“Don’t talk about truce while you’re still launching missiles,” Zelensky concluded.