Easter truce in Ukraine violated minutes after start

An Orthodox Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine began on Saturday afternoon but was violated within 38 minutes by air raid sirens in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine.

Multiple ceasefire breaches have since been recorded along the frontline.

The truce was intended to provide a pause in fighting from Saturday afternoon until Easter Monday, offering civilians and combatants a respite after more than four years of conflict following Russia's full-scale invasion.

No long-range missile or drone strikes were reported during the truce period.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the significance of the ceasefire, stating that Easter should be a time of peace and safety.

He warned that Ukrainian forces would respond strictly to any violations by Moscow.

Despite the truce, air raid sirens sounded less than an hour after the ceasefire began, signaling immediate breaches.

Local residents gathered at St John the Theologian Church for traditional Easter blessings, though the church itself remains damaged from earlier fighting.

Military units near the Russian border prepared for the ceasefire by testing new equipment but remained on alert, anticipating that hostilities might resume.

#Ukraine #Russia #VolodymyrZelensky #Kharkiv #Eastertruce #ceasefireviolation