Multiple Russian ceasefire violations reported from front line during Easter ceasefire, Zelensky says
Multiple Russian ceasefire violations across the front line have been reported since an Easter truce was declared by the Kremlin, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on April 20.
Russia’s Easter ceasefire was supposed to come into effect at 6 pm on April 19 and last until midnight on April 21, with Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming it would “test Ukraine’s sincerity in pursuing peace talks."
However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine has observed an increase in Russian shelling and the use of kamikaze drones since 10 a.m., with the use of FPV drones “doubling,” according to Zelensky, relaying information provided by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Russian forces have already carried out 26 assaults between midnight and noon today, Zelensky added.
The Russian military is reportedly most active in the Pokrovsk and Siversk directions in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Oblast.
“We are documenting every Russian violation of its self-declared commitment to a full ceasefire for the Easter period and are prepared to provide the necessary information to our partners,” Zelensky said.
“Either Putin does not have full control over his army, or the situation proves that in Russia, they have no intention of making a genuine move toward ending the war, and are only interested in favorable PR coverage."
Zelensky also repeated his call to pressure Moscow to “genuinely commit to a ceasefire” for 30 days, rather than simply during the Easter holiday.
Russian FPV drone attacks targeting civilians were also reported in Ukraine’s southern Kherson Oblast after the Easter ceasefire came into effect, with at least four people reported injured and one person killed.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk