Did Russia violate its own Easter hasty? Zelensky says Putin continues with assault | Today news

Just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an Easter armor to stop bombing Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian strikes did not stop in the border regions of Kursk and Belgorod. Ukraine said Russia violated its own Easter and retained its artillery fire and assault on the front line. In a statement on social media, Zelensky said: “Kursk and Belgorod regions – Putin’s Easter statements did not spread to this area.” “The fight continues, Russian strikes continue.” While the Russian Passover stall is meant to last until midnight on Sunday, April 20, the air-affected sirens sound in Kyiv, which indicates violence. The Ukrainian Governor of the South Kherson region Oleksandr Prokudin claims that Moscow has launched several drone strikes since the ceasefire. The Russian Easter wager the order to stop all fights over the Easter weekend came after months of efforts by US President Donald Trump to make Moscow and Kyiv a ceasefire. Washington even threatened to withdraw from talks on Friday if no progress was made. “Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT on Sunday), the Russian team announces an Easter stopping,” Vladimir Putin said in television remarks earlier Saturday. Vladimir Putin also said the ceasefire for the Easter holidays celebrated on Sunday was motivated by ‘humanitarian reasons’. He said he expects Ukraine to comply, but that Russian troops “should be ready to withstand possible violations of the ceasefire and provocations by the enemy.” While Zelensky replied by saying that Ukraine would follow, and suggested that he expand the ceasefire beyond Sunday, he also accused Russia of breaking his promises. “If Russia is suddenly ready to really participate in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly – reflecting Russia’s actions,” he said. And a few hours after the Easter festivals were announced, Ukraine accused Russia of violating it and continuing his strikes and assault in the border regions. (With agency input) first published: 20 Apr 2025, 05:36 AM IST