Moscow alleges widespread violations of the Easter truce, while Ukraine reports counter-claims of Russian attacks.
April 12, 2026: Moscow on Sunday accused Ukraine of breaching the Kremlin-declared 32-hour Orthodox Easter truce, claiming nearly 2,000 violations within the first 16 hours. According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, Ukrainian forces allegedly carried out multiple attacks on Russian troop positions, including from the Pokrovskoye area, as well as targeting settlements like Gai and Otradnoye. Moscow stated that all such attacks were successfully repelled.
The ministry reported a total of 1,971 ceasefire violations between April 11 and April 12, adding that Russian forces also blocked several Ukrainian attempts to advance in regions including Sumy and Donetsk. Meanwhile, Ukrainian outlet UNIAN reported that Russian forces also violated the truce, including an alleged strike on an ambulance in the Sumy region, highlighting conflicting claims from both sides.
The ceasefire had been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who directed top military officials to halt hostilities along the eastern Ukraine front. Despite the temporary truce, the continued accusations underscore the fragile nature of the conflict. Separately, Putin attended Easter service at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, where he praised the role of the Orthodox Church in preserving Russia’s cultural and spiritual traditions.