Ukraine Skeptical of Putin’s Temporary Easter Ceasefire \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Ukraine voiced doubt over a temporary Easter ceasefire declared by Russia, citing a lack of trust in Moscow’s intentions. The announcement coincided with the largest prisoner swap of the war, with hundreds exchanged. Ukrainian officials reiterated their commitment to reciprocate any genuine and full ceasefire.
Quick Looks
- Putin declared a 30-hour Easter ceasefire from Saturday evening to Sunday midnight
- Kyiv expressed skepticism, citing continued attacks and Russia’s past record
- Zelenskyy said Ukraine would match a real, full ceasefire and proposed extending it
- Ukraine claims it previously accepted a 30-day truce proposed by the U.S., which Russia rejected
- Largest prisoner swap since war began: 277 Ukrainians returned home, 246 Russians repatriated
- Many freed Ukrainians were young men captured early in the war, some severely malnourished
- The United Arab Emirates helped mediate the exchange
- Ukraine continues operations in Russia’s Kursk region, contradicting Moscow’s claim of full control
- Russian drone attacks hit Ukrainian regions overnight; 33 drones shot down, 36 jammed
- Fires broke out in Sumy and Odesa due to Russian shelling, but no casualties reported
Deep Look
On the eve of Orthodox Easter, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 30-hour ceasefire in Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons. The Kremlin said the temporary truce would last from 6 p.m. Saturday (Moscow time) until midnight on Sunday, aimed at allowing Easter observances.
But in Kyiv, officials greeted the announcement with skepticism, questioning Moscow’s motives and citing ongoing artillery and ground fire across the front.
“If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram. “That will reveal Russia’s true intentions.”
Ceasefire or Symbolism? Ukraine Skeptical of Russia’s Intent
Putin’s declaration offered no details on how the ceasefire would be implemented or monitored. Nor did it specify whether it would apply to airstrikes, drone warfare, or ground operations, which remain intense along Ukraine’s more than 1,000-kilometer-long front.
Ukraine’s government responded by reaffirming its willingness to honor a real and comprehensive ceasefire—but said the short timeframe and Russia’s track record suggested more of a public relations gesture than a genuine peace overture.
“Thirty hours instead of 30 days,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X. “Unfortunately, we have had a long history of [Putin’s] statements not matching his actions.”
Ukraine revealed it had already accepted a U.S.-backed proposal for a 30-day interim truce in March—one that Russia rejected.
Military reports from Kyiv confirmed that Russian shelling and troop activity continued in multiple regions after the ceasefire was announced.
Prisoner Swap: A Moment of Humanity Amid War
Despite the mistrust, a glimmer of hope emerged with the largest prisoner exchange since the war began over three years ago.
On Saturday, 277 Ukrainian service members were returned from Russian captivity, while Russia confirmed 246 of its troops were also repatriated. A separate agreement returned 31 wounded Ukrainians in exchange for 15 injured Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.
Zelenskyy praised the exchange, thanking the United Arab Emirates for its role in brokering the deal.
“These are our warriors. Many were born after 2000,” said Ukraine’s POW coordination office. “They are home now, but thousands more remain in captivity.”
Emotional Reunions and Lingering Trauma
In northern Chernihiv, families gathered outside a hospital as buses carrying freed prisoners arrived. Among them was Nataliia Lohvynchuk, 48, who hadn’t seen her son since his capture during the siege of Mariupol in 2022.
Her son, Ihor, now 23, had lost nearly 40 kilograms in Russian captivity.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” he said softly. “We made it back, but we’re not really here yet.”
As she embraced him, his mother issued an emotional plea to the world:
“Help us bring all our boys home.”
To date, 4,552 Ukrainians, both soldiers and civilians, have been returned from Russian custody. Saturday’s exchange was the fourth this year and the 63rd since the invasion began.
Ukraine Challenges Russia’s Control of Kursk
On the battlefield, Russia’s military claimed it had retaken nearly all territory in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had launched a surprise incursion in 2023.
According to Russian General Valery Gerasimov, 99.5% of the territory was now under Russian control. He reported this directly to Putin, stating that 1,260 square kilometers had been “liberated.”
However, President Zelenskyy countered, asserting on X that Ukrainian forces remain active inside Kursk and hold key positions to disrupt further Russian advances, particularly toward Ukraine’s Sumy region.
“Our presence is strategic. We are fighting on enemy territory to defend our own,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Russian state media confirmed ongoing clashes in the village of Gornal, 11 kilometers from Oleshnya, the focal point of the conflict.
The Associated Press could not independently verify battlefield claims from either side.
Overnight Strikes: Drones, Fires, and Defense
As the ceasefire announcement was taking effect, Russia launched 87 drones and decoys in a new overnight assault across Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 33 drones and said 36 more likely crashed or malfunctioned due to electronic jamming. Several others struck infrastructure and agricultural sites.
In Odesa, attacks damaged multiple farms, while in Sumy, explosions sparked fires, later extinguished without casualties, Ukraine’s emergency services confirmed.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it downed two Ukrainian drones overnight.
What’s Next?
While the Easter ceasefire remains largely symbolic, the POW exchange underscores the potential for small-scale diplomacy even amid full-scale war.
Ukraine remains skeptical of Moscow’s motives, especially as the Kremlin continues offensive operations, despite public pronouncements of peace. The coming days will test whether Russia genuinely intends to pause hostilities, or if—as Kyiv fears—it’s simply an image move to influence international opinion during a major religious holiday.
As the war continues into its fourth year, both sides appear entrenched, but exchanges like Saturday’s reveal that humanitarian efforts and diplomatic channels remain open—however fragile.
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