Zelenski accuses Russia of violating the armistice

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski accused Russia on Saturday of violating the cessation that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had just announced for Easter and which Ukraine has committed to respect, in what would be the most significant break in the last three years of conflict.

« Guided by humanitarian considerations, the Russian part declares a Easter armistice today, from 6:00 pm (15:00 GMT) until midnight on Sunday to Monday (21:00 GMT on Sunday). I order all the hostilities during this period, » said the head of the Russian state.

« We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example, » he added, asking the Russian forces to be prepared for an « immediate and comprehensive response » in the case of the Armistice. « 

« If Russia is ready to truly engage (at a cessation of fire – no), Ukraine will do the same, » wrote the Ukrainian president on X, adding to proposing « the extension of the fire beyond April 20. »

At the end of the day, however, Volodimir Zelenski also wrote on X that « Russian attacks continue in several sectors of the front », while an anti -aircraft alert called Kiev.

The governor of the Herson region of southern Ukraine reported attacks with Russian drones at the same time.

Around 6:00 pm (15:00 GMT), an attack by eight Russian drones burned apartments from a residential tower, and later during the evening three drones hit two villages, Oleksandr Prokudin said, while Ukrainian air forces issued air attack alerts in several eastern regions.

« The fights continue and the Russian attacks continue, » the head of the Ukrainian army on Saturday evening. « In some areas of the front line, the Russian artillery continues to be heard, despite the peace promise of the Russian leader. Russian drones are used, » he said.

« Putin has just made statements about his alleged disposition for a cessation of fire. We know that his words are not trustworthy and we will examine the facts, not the words, » warned Ukrainian Minister Andrii Sîbiga.

Interrogated by AFP, Ukrainian soldiers also expressed their extreme distrust of the Russians.

« It is impossible to believe in any cessation of fire from these people, » said Dmitri, a 40 -year -old soldier who enjoys a sun break in Kramatorsk in the East.

« I think this man (Putin) is diabolical, a criminal, but he can do it. He could do it to give hope or to show his humanity. In any case, of course, we do not trust. These 30 hours will go nowhere, » he said, before concluding that « it is certain that massacres on our people and they will continue. »

Russia also announced on Saturday that it has changed 246 Ukrainian war prisoners, for the same number of Russian prisoners, in addition to 31 wounded Ukrainians and 15 injured Russians.

The United Arab Emirates, a mediator in this case, confirmed the operation, greeting the « biggest exchange » of prisoners from the beginning of the war, according to a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published on Saturday evening.

Easter, one of the most important holidays in the Christian calendar, which marks the resurrection of Christ, is celebrated this year at the same date by Catholics and Orthodox.

Attempts to establish a cessation of fire on this occasion in Ukraine have already taken place twice since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022.

In April 2022, a first initiative in this direction, launched by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Getterres, was not materialized because of Russia’s refusal, who believed that the Ukrainian army could take advantage of it to regroup and re -start.

The following year, in January 2023, the Patriarch Cyril of the Russian Orthodox Church urged the two belligerents to stop the Easter hostilities, and Russia decreed a 36 -hour fire. However, it was described as a « trap » by Ukraine, and the clashes continued.

The Armistice ordered Putin on Saturday comes while the efforts of the administration of US President Donald Trump to find a way out of the conflict in Ukraine seems to have stagnated in recent days.

As a result, Trump threatened to withdraw from negotiations on Friday if there will be no quick progress in the separate discussions that his representatives have been carrying with Kiev and Moscow for several weeks.

The same day, the Kremlin said that he believes that the Moratory on attacks on energy complexes, announced in March for 30 days, but whose implementation remained unclear, « expired ». Russia and Ukraine have accused each other almost daily of its violation.

Donald Trump initially proposed an end to the complete and complete fire, whose principle was accepted by Kiev under the pressure of Washington, but rejected by Vladimir Putin.

Russia also claimed on Saturday that it was « released » almost the entire Russian Kursk region, which was the target of an offensive surprise of Ukrainian forces in August 2024.

Such an advance would place the front back on the Ukrainian territory again, which would strengthen Russia’s confidence.