Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that during the night the Russian army made attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukrainian forces on the front line, despite the ceasefire announced by President Vladimir Putin for Easter, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
“In general, on 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 give up individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine“, Zelensky said in a post on social networks.
According to Zelensky, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have recorded 59 cases of Russian shelling and five attacks in various sections of the front line, as well as “dozens of drone strikes“.
Zelensky stressed that Russia must fully adhere to the terms of the ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's Easter statements do not cover the territories of the Kursk and Belgorod regions in Russia, and on some fronts combat operations continue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on his channel on the social network “Telegram“, quoted by Ukrinform.
“We are reporting the real situation in all directions. Kursk and Belgorod regions - Putin's Easter statements do not cover these territories. Combat operations continue, Russian strikes remain. Russian artillery is still heard in certain directions of the front, despite the Russian leader's promise of silence. Russian drones are operating. In places, the situation has become quieter“, Zelensky wrote. The president stressed that Ukrainian actions would remain symmetrical.
At the same time, he said that the proposal for a 30-day complete and unconditional ceasefire remains and that the response must come from Moscow. The president stressed that together with its partners, Ukraine is ready to move towards peace in the most constructive way possible, but the same readiness is needed from Russia.
„The most important thing now is that it is finally clear who was really the reason for this war all along. The moment Putin actually ordered a reduction in the intensity and brutality of the attacks, the fighting and killings decreased. The only reason for this war and its prolongation lies in Russia“, Zelensky noted.
Earlier, the head of state said that Ukraine would act symmetrically in relation to the ceasefire from Russia — silence in response to silence, strikes in defense of strikes.
Last night, Russian-appointed officials in Ukraine's partially occupied Kherson region said Ukrainian forces were continuing their attacks, Reuters reported.
“Ukrainian troops continue to strike peaceful towns in the Kherson region, violating the Easter truce,“ Moscow-appointed governor Volodymyr Saldo wrote on his Telegram channel.
Putin announced a temporary ceasefire for Easter, citing humanitarian reasons. Putin did not give details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or the ongoing ground battles that have raged around the clock, Reuters noted.