Zelenskyy exposes Russia's deceitful ceasefire tactics amid ongoing assaults

In Ukraine, on Easter Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publically rebuked Russia for its apparent attempt to fabricate a ceasefire. Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a unilateral temporary truce intended for the Easter period, Ukrainian military forces recorded numerous incidents of continued Russian shelling and ground assaults. Specifically, 59 instances of shelling and five organized attacks were noted, along with multiple drone strikes, contradicting claims of a ceasefire. Zelenskyy emphasized that the ceasefire conditions must be fully respected and reaffirmed Ukraine's willingness to extend the truce for an additional 30 days. Putin's announcement of the ceasefire was positioned as a humanitarian gesture, meant to coincide with Easter celebrations. He declared that the ceasefire would take effect from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday until midnight following Easter Sunday. Reports suggest that this declaration aimed to alleviate some of the hostilities and maintain a semblance of calm during a significant religious observance. However, Zelenskyy underscored that Ukrainian troops continued to face ongoing attacks even after Putin's declaration. Meanwhile, ordinary Ukrainians marked Easter in distinct settings, gathering at damaged churches or in bombed-out areas, often under the specter of war. Celebrations took on a somber tone, with many expressing doubt that a ceasefire could genuinely take hold. Reports from frontline soldiers and anecdotes from parishioners reveal a persistent sense of skepticism regarding the authenticity of any truce proposed by Russia. Many believe that the state of war remains unchanged, casting a shadow over their religious observances. The overarching sentiment among Ukrainians is one of disbelief regarding any possible ceasefire. During Easter services, individuals expressed their feelings about the ongoing conflict, voicing doubts that any future agreements would yield lasting peace. With no clear guidelines provided by Putin regarding how the ceasefire would be enforced or whether it would include airstrikes, the future remains uncertain. Despite political negotiations taking place at higher levels, many citizens of Ukraine feel the war is far from over, feeling it's futile to place hope in a proposed cessation of hostilities.