Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that fighting was ongoing in Russia’s border regions of Kursk and Belgorod, despite President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a 30-hour Easter ceasefire.
“Kursk and Belgorod regions – Putin’s Easter statements did not spread to this territory,” Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post. “Fighting continues, Russian strikes continue,” he added.
This comes after Putin announced a 30-hour Easter ceasefire beginning Saturday evening, asking Russian forces to halt hostilities against Ukraine. From 6 pm Saturday to midnight on Sunday.
However, Zelenskyy accused Moscow of continuing artillery strikes along the frontline and using drones in violation of the truce. Air-raid sirens were heard in Kyiv and other regions within hours of the ceasefire taking effect.
“If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia’s actions. Silence in response to silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Ukraine had earlier agreed to a US-backed proposal for a 30-day full ceasefire, which Russia had rejected. Zelenskyy reiterated his support for that longer truce, saying, “30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance,” he added.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also called Putin’s one-day ceasefire offer “insufficient.” He wrote: “Thirty hours instead of thirty days. Unfortunately, we have a long history of his statements not matching his actions.”
Despite ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine conducted a major prisoner swap on Saturday, each returning 246 captured soldiers in an exchange brokered by the United Arab Emirates.
While some areas reported a temporary calm, Ukraine’s military command confirmed that Russian attacks had not fully stopped, particularly across the border.
