The Easter ceasefire announced between Ukraine and Russia is unlikely to extend beyond its initial timeframe, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence chief.
Kyrylo Budanov stated that the one-day ceasefire is not expected to be prolonged. He noted that similar situations have occurred in the past, where temporary ceasefires during Easter were frequently violated. Despite this, many parties attempted to adhere to the ceasefire conditions.
“I believe that nothing will change, and it will be the same today,” Budanov remarked.
Earlier in April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays, but there was no official agreement from the Kremlin at that time. Subsequently, on April 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire set to take effect from 16:00 on April 11 until the end of April 12.
In response, Ukraine expressed its readiness for reciprocal actions should there be a genuine cessation of hostilities, urging for the continuation of the ceasefire beyond the holiday period. Ukraine also suggested extending the ceasefire with Russia after Easter.
However, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, fighting has continued despite Russia’s declaration of an “Easter ceasefire.” As of the morning of April 12, there had been over 2,000 clashes reported along the front lines.
The Easter ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is anticipated to be short-lived, with ongoing hostilities reported despite official declarations. Historical precedents suggest a pattern of violations during similar ceasefire attempts.