Serhiy Hnezdilov, a 24-year-old soldier fighting for Ukraine in the eastern Donetsk region, reported hearing explosions throughout the night during a cease-fire that was not observed. Despite a truce promised by Russian President Vladimir V. Putin for Easter, Hnezdilov noted that Ukrainian soldiers were instructed to report any violations, which they experienced firsthand.
Hnezdilov expressed skepticism about the cease-fire, stating, “To me, it was just words from Putin like, ‘We won’t shoot,’ but they are shooting.” The truce, declared to last 30 hours, seemed to be a strategic move by Putin to demonstrate Russia's commitment to peace amid ongoing tensions with the United States.
On Friday, U.S. officials indicated that if progress in peace negotiations was not made, they might withdraw from the process. The implications of this were unclear, raising concerns about Ukraine's reliance on U.S. military support as aid from the Biden administration began to slow.
Although the cease-fire was intended to create a quieter night, both Ukraine and Russia reported continued attacks, with each side blaming the other for violations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian forces had conducted numerous artillery strikes and assaults, while Russia's defense ministry claimed Ukraine was responsible for drone attacks and other violations.
Vlad Krupko, a drone unit commander, remarked that the fighting during the cease-fire mirrored the ongoing conflict since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, asserting that “there was no cease-fire at all.”
President Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine a foreign policy priority, but his administration has echoed Russian positions, suggesting that parts of Ukraine should be ceded to Russia. There has been little discussion in the U.S. government about increasing military aid to Ukraine, which remains dependent on U.S. support for intelligence and military resources.
In response to the cease-fire, Zelensky indicated that Ukrainian forces would mirror Russian actions, stating that if Russian troops attacked, Ukrainian troops would respond accordingly. He also expressed a desire to extend the truce for an additional 30 days.
Ukrainian analysts largely dismissed the cease-fire as a public relations tactic, expressing concern over the potential withdrawal of U.S. involvement in peace negotiations. The situation raised questions about the future of U.S. military intelligence and support for Ukraine.
As Easter is a significant holiday in Ukraine, the atmosphere was somber, with many viewing Putin's truce offer with skepticism. Reports of ongoing attacks, including drone strikes on evacuation vehicles, further fueled distrust among the Ukrainian populace.
In the eastern Kharkiv region, villagers attended Easter services near the ruins of a church destroyed during the conflict, highlighting the ongoing impact of the war on civilian life. One villager, Iryna Trotsko, expressed her distrust of Russian promises, stating, “They don’t keep their word or any of the promises they make to us.”