Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of violating a weekend Easter ceasefire more than 2,900 times, calling into question the sincerity of Moscow’s truce declaration. The 30-hour ceasefire, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday for humanitarian purposes, ended at midnight on Easter Sunday.

Despite the temporary truce, violence persisted across Ukraine. In the southern Kherson region, three people were killed and three others injured during the ceasefire period, local governor Oleksandr Prokudin said in a Telegram update. He reported that the region endured sustained attacks over the past 24 hours.

In his own statement early Monday, Zelenskyy outlined the scale of the alleged violations, saying Russian forces conducted 96 assault operations along the front lines, launched over 1,800 artillery strikes, and deployed hundreds of drones. “The nature of Ukrainian actions will continue to be mirror-like: we will respond to silence with silence, and our blows will be a defence against Russian blows,” Zelenskyy said. “Actions always speak louder than words.”

Ukraine had initially expressed scepticism about Moscow’s intentions, stating it would reciprocate only if Russia adhered to a genuine ceasefire. However, within hours of the truce beginning, both sides accused each other of violations.

Following the ceasefire’s expiration, Russian forces resumed offensive operations, launching a series of missile and drone strikes overnight. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that three missiles were fired at the southern Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, while 96 Shahed drones targeted various parts of the country. Of those, 42 drones were shot down and 47 others were jammed, the military said.

In central Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, Governor Serhii Lysak reported drone strikes that sparked fires at a food facility and another outbuilding, though no injuries were reported. In Cherkasy, local authorities said a piece of infrastructure was damaged in an overnight attack.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces fully complied with the ceasefire terms, stating they remained in “previously occupied lines and positions.” In contrast, Moscow accused Ukraine of breaching the truce 4,900 times, including six attempted assault operations, more than 1,400 artillery and rocket attacks, and over 3,300 drone strikes.

The ministry confirmed that Russian forces have since resumed what it refers to as the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

The breakdown of the truce highlights the ongoing volatility of the conflict and the deep mistrust between Kyiv and Moscow, despite public appeals for temporary peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to mark the Easter holiday, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin on Saturday. The truce, described as a humanitarian gesture, will be in effect from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight on Sunday (2100 GMT), following Orthodox Easter celebrations.

“Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period,” President Putin was quoted as saying during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The announcement was made through the Kremlin’s official press service.

Putin expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate the gesture. “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example,” he said, while also instructing Russian troops to remain vigilant. “At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions.”

So far, there has been no official response from Kyiv regarding the proposed ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm whether they will observe the temporary truce.

The ceasefire announcement came on the same day Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed a military gain near the Ukraine border. Russian forces reportedly captured the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region — one of the last Ukrainian footholds in that area, according to the ministry. However, the Associated Press noted that it could not independently verify the claim, and Ukrainian authorities have not issued a statement in response.

The announcement of the truce arrives amid continued hostilities in eastern and southern Ukraine, with both sides engaged in intense fighting despite periodic calls for peace. Previous attempts at temporary ceasefires, including those tied to religious holidays, have often failed to hold due to mutual accusations of violations.

The Kremlin’s move appears to be an attempt to frame Russia’s actions as being guided by humanitarian motives, possibly aimed at improving its international image during a deeply entrenched conflict. Nonetheless, observers remain skeptical about the effectiveness or sincerity of such temporary measures without a broader agreement in place.

The Orthodox Easter, a significant religious holiday in both Russia and Ukraine, is often seen as an opportunity for brief moments of reflection and reprieve from conflict. Whether this latest ceasefire will bring any tangible pause to the violence remains uncertain.