Moscow ends its 'Easter ceasefire' after breaking it thousands of times

The statement came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed extending the ceasefire on long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days. Moscow has ignored the offer.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that with the truce — a ceasefire that Russian troops routinely violated — now over, its armed forces have resumed operations in Ukraine under the guise of the so-called “special military operation” — the Kremlin’s euphemism for its full-scale invasion.

Russian officials also alleged, without evidence, that Ukrainian forces violated the truce 4,900 times, even as they admitted a “notable reduction” in Ukrainian activity during daylight hours.

In contrast, Zelenskyy said Russia had violated the ceasefire 2,935 times since 6:00 p.m. on April 19, when the "truce" was supposed to begin. He added that Ukraine responded “mirroring” Russia’s actions.

Putin's so-called 'Easter ceasefire'

On April 19, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced a so-called “Easter ceasefire”, claiming it will be in effect from 6:00 p.m. on April 19 until midnight on April 21. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded that Ukraine will mirror the ceasefire.

Despite the announcement, Russian forces continued assaults and shelling along the front lines. However, no air raid alerts were recorded in Ukrainian oblasts on April 20. 

By early morning on April 21, Russia launched nearly 100 Shahed drones, as well as three Oniks and Kh-31P missiles across Ukraine. Explosions were reported in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts.