Ukraine: Zelenskyy says truce hasn't stopped Russian attacks
Published April 19, 2025last updated April 20, 2025What you need to know
- Zelenskyy reports overnight Russian shelling at the frontline, despite ceasefire
- Putin had offered truce for Saturday evening and all of Easter Sunday
- The offer might be Putin signaling to US President Donald Trump, DW correspondent says
- Kyiv says prepared to extend ceasefire for 30 days
- Russia, Ukraine engage in new prisoner swap
This blog has now closed. Please move over to Monday's blog for fresh updates.
Zelenskyy accuses Russia of 2,000 ceasefire violations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the Russian army of violating a supposed Easter truce "more than 2,000 times" on Sunday – but did say there had been "no air raid alerts today."
Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a 30-hour ceasefire for Easter Sunday – but both sides have accused each other of breaching it, with Kyiv insisting it has only been launching reciprocal, defensive strikes.
Given that the truce violations have reportedly involved artillery rather than airborne missiles, Zelenskyy has still proposed "[ceasing] any strikes using long-range drones and missiles on civilian infrastructure for a period of at least 30 days" – with a possible extension.
"This is a format of ceasefire that has been achieved and that is the easiest to extend," he said.
"If Russia does not agree to such a step, it will be proof that it intends to continue doing only those things which destroy human lives and prolong the war."
Kremlin: No orders to extend ceasefire
The US State Department said on Sunday that it would welcome the extension of an Easter ceasefire beyond just one day – but the Kremlin said no such orders had been given.
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had unilaterally declared a 30-hour Easter Sunday truce. Kyiv responded by pledging to mirror Russia's actions, but both Russian and Ukrainian officials subsequently accused each other of continuing to launch artillery and drone attacks.
Asked by Russia's state TASS news agency whether the supposed ceasefire could be extended, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday evening: "There were no other commands."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's top military commanderOleksandr Syrskyisaid Russia was continuing to use "heavy weaponry" despite the declared truce.
"The most active Russian operations this morning have been carried out in the Pokrovsk and Siversk directions," Syrskyi said in his afternoon update, referring to embattled towns in the eastern Donetsk region.
What did Putin and Zelenskyy say about the truce?
Russian President Volodymyr Putin declared the Easter ceasefire after attending midnight mass, citing "humanitarian considerations."
Kyiv has been skeptical about the 30-hour truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was an illusion with Russia continuing to shell Ukraine overnight, having promised to respond symmetrically. He also spoke of the resilience of the people of his country.
Watch their remarks below.
Russia says positions shelled overnight amid truce
The Russian defense ministry says it has "repelled" Ukrainian attacks during the brief truce. Moscow also accused Kyiv of launching drones and shells, causing civilian casualties.
The ministry said that "despite the announcement of the Easter truce, Ukrainian units at night made attempts to attack" its positions in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
It said Ukraine had overnight "444 times shelled... the positions of our troops and carried out 900 strikes with drones."
These attacks left civilians "dead and wounded", the ministry said, without elaborating.
Russian officials insisted their troops had "strictly observed the ceasefire and stayed at the front lines and positions they previously occupied."
Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of shelling and assaults along the front line despite the truce announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kyiv's former Berlin envoy says fate of Europe depends on Merz
Ukraine's former ambassador to Germany, Andrii Melnyk, is urging Germany's incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz to immediately allow the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Melnyk called on Merz to announce a shipment of 150 Taurus missiles in the Bundestag on May 6, the day he is set to be elected chancellor by lawmakers.
In an open letter published by Die Welt newspaper, Melnyk said action was needed to ensure swift delivery.
Melnyk, set to become Kyiv's ambassador to the United Nations in New York, said the delivery was needed to curb Russia's advance and shift the dynamics of the war.
He appealed to Merz's sense of historical responsibility: "Not only does the future of Germany depend on your success as chancellor, but also the fate of Ukraine — and of all of Europe," he wrote. Melnyk said Merz had a "historic opportunity to make Germany the most important beacon of the free democratic world."
The weapons should be delivered, "without ifs and buts," he wrote.
The German Air Force has operated the Taurus system since 2005 and each missile costs approximately €1 million ($1.1 million).
Merz, leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democrats, says he supports supplying the missiles to Ukraine but that any such move would require coordination with European allies.
Center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz, now serving in a caretaker role, has consistently ruled out sending the Taurus missiles, saying it could drag Germany further into the conflict.
Putin's ceasefire may allow redeployments
Nikolay Petrov, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, told DW that Russia's ceasefire pledge is intended to placate the White House and may have been a ploy to buy time for strategic redeployments.
"This ceasefire — even if only for 30 hours — is timed exactly for Easter, as the Americans had previously requested. It looks very good [for the Kremlin]. Especially since the initiative comes from Russia, and especially since it doesn't really oblige them to anything," Petrov said.
"One can always cite a violation of the ceasefire by the other side as a reason to pull out," he told DW.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the temporary truce in Ukraine on Saturday.
"What matters is that the duration is short," said Petrov. "What matters is that the ceasefire was announced as part of a secret operation, without any prior discussion. This means that the Russian side could prepare for it and use those 30 hours to carry out some redeployments in its own interest and then begin or continue the offensive."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is creating a false appearance of honoring the ceasefire, saying Moscow has continued to launch attacks into Sunday.
Zelenskyy: Russia 'trying to create impression' of Easter ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia's army tried to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine's forces along the front line overnight despite President Vladimir Putin's declaration of an Easter ceasefire.
"In general, as of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in a post on social media.
Citing a report by his commander in chief, Zelenskyy said 59 cases of Russian shelling and five assaults by Russian units had been reported by 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 UTC/GMT) on Sunday.
In the previous six hours, he said there were 387 shelling instances and 119 assaults by Russian forces.
Zelenskyy added that Kyiv's proposal to implement and extend the ceasefire for a further 30 days " remains on the table," but that his forces would "act in accordance with the actual situation on the ground."
Putin attends Orthodox Easter service led by one of his strongest supporters
Russia's President Vladimir Putin joined other worshipers for an Easter service in Moscow's main church hours after declaring a 30-hour ceasefire in Ukraine.
The service was led by the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.
He is a faithful backer of the Russian leader and a staunch supporter of the war in Ukraine.
Holding a lit thin red candle, Putin crossed himself several times when Kirill announced "Christ is risen."
At the service, Krill called for "lasting and just peace can be established in the vast expanses of historical Rus," RIA state news agency reported.
Historical Rus is a reference to a medieval territory that encompassed parts of what is now Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
Zelenskyy says Russian strikes continue despite Easter truce
Russia is still firing artillery near the front, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
This is despite Russia's declaration of a ceasefire over Easter.
"Kursk and Belgorod regions - Putin's Easter statements did not spread to this territory," Zelenskyy said in a social media post, referring to two Russian border regions where Ukrainian forces have made incursions.
"Hostilities continue, and Russian strikes persist. Russian artillery can still be heard in certain directions of the front, regardless of the Russian leader's promise of silence. Russian drones are in use."
"In some areas, the situation has become quieter," he said.
Zelenskyy did not provide evidence for this.
Midnight update: Fighting reportedly continues
Good morning. It is just past midnight in Germany, and we will be taking over from our late team for the next few hours.
Fighting is still being reported along parts of the Ukraine-Russia frontline.
We will keep you updated as the day unfolds.
Russia, Ukraine carry out fresh prisoner swap
Russia and Ukraine took part in a new prisoner swap on Saturday.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had received 246 Russian soldiers from Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia stated that it handed over 246 Ukrainian prisoners to Ukraine.
Russia also said it handed over 31 wounded prisoners of war to Ukraine, with Ukraine then handing over 15 wounded Russian prisoners to Russia.
Zelenskyy, for his part, confirmed that 277 Ukrainian "warriors" had returned home after being taken prisoner by Russia.
Ukraine's defense ministry posted photos on X of the returned prisoners.
Air raid warnings issued for Kyiv, parts of eastern Ukraine
The Ukrainian air force put out air raid warnings for parts of eastern Ukraine and the capital, Kyiv.
Air raid maps showed the alerts applied to the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropretrovsk regions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's "Easter truce" declaration was already supposed to have come into effect at 1800 local time [1500 GMT].
Zelenskyy: Ukraine willing to go along with ceasefire, but wants it to be longer
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces are willing to "act accordingly" in response to Putin's "Easter truce."
"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," Zelenskyy posted on X. "Silence in response to silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks. If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20."
"That is what will reveal Russia’s true intentions — because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance," he added.
Zelenskyy said that as of now Russian "assault operations" are continuing on parts of the frontline.
"Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow. We know all too well how Moscow manipulates, and we are prepared for anything," Zelenskyy said. "Ukraine’s Defense Forces will act rationally — responding in kind. Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response."
Zelenskyy said he will receive updates on the situation in the coming hours from the military as the "truce" continues.
Top Russian general claims almost all of Kursk retaken by Russia
Top Russian general Valery Gerasimov said that Russia has retaken 99% of the Kursk region.
Ukraine launched an incursion into the western Russion region of Kursk in August. Ukraine has not yet responded to Gerasimov's claim regarding Kursk, and the claim could not be independently verified.
Ukraine was seeking to hold onto territory in Kursk as a bargaining chip, and would trade parts of Kursk for Ukrainian territory that Russia has taken control of.
DW's Nick Connolly went to a Kursk town under Ukrainian occupation in August. You can read his account of the incursion here.
Zelenskyy: Russian drone attacks reveal Putin's true attitude towards Easter
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also skeptical of Putin's declaration.
"As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives — at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine," Zelenskyy posted on X.
"At 17:15, Russian attack drones were detected in our skies. Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun working to protect us. Shahed in our skies reveal Putin's true attitude toward Easter and towards human life," he added. Russia has frequently used Iranian Shahed drones to attack Ukranian cities from the sky.