Putin Orders Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine as Drone Strikes Continue [2025 Update]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for Easter, calling for a pause in fighting across Ukraine from Saturday evening through Sunday. The Kremlin says this gesture is meant to offer humanitarian relief during an important Orthodox holiday. Yet, just hours after the announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported continued Russian drone attacks, including overnight strikes on Odesa and Sumy.

Claims of quiet on the front lines haven’t matched reality for many Ukrainians. Air raid alerts and reports of falling drones signal that, despite official statements, hostilities are far from over. The Easter ceasefire highlights the ongoing gulf between political signals and conditions on the ground. As both sides dig in, the conflict’s next phase will likely be shaped by these short-lived truces and the persistent threats they fail to stop.

Putin’s Announcement of the Easter Ceasefire

Putin’s recent Easter ceasefire caught international attention, promising a pause in fighting as Orthodox Christians marked one of the year’s holiest weekends. For Ukrainians already bracing under daily strikes, the gesture came with skepticism. The ceasefire was outlined as a time for reflection and relief—but also opened up questions about Russia’s real intentions and how these brief pauses fit into the wider war.

Ceasefire Duration and Humanitarian Rationale

The Russian government announced that the Easter ceasefire would run from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday to midnight Sunday, lasting just over 30 hours. This timeframe was framed as a window for people in war-torn areas to observe Easter safely, without the immediate threat of violence. According to official Russian statements, the goal was to show respect for the Orthodox Christian tradition and provide humanitarian relief to civilians caught in the crossfire.

• Ceasefire dates: Saturday evening to midnight Sunday (Moscow time)
• Official reasoning: Respect for the Easter holiday, humanitarian intent
• Russian statements: Calls for a “pause in hostilities” aimed at allowing people to attend religious services and visit loved ones without fear

Russian leadership emphasized the religious meaning of the truce, positioning it as a goodwill gesture. Yet, reports of continued drone attacks in Ukraine cast doubt on the actual impact for those on the ground. The Kremlin’s announcement can be read as both a symbolic move and a reminder that public statements don’t always match battlefield conditions. For more details, see this Reuters report on Putin's Easter ceasefire announcement.

Photo by Alex P

Connection to Recent Prisoner Exchange

This truce did not stand alone. The ceasefire was declared soon after Russia and Ukraine completed their largest prisoner-of-war exchange since the full-scale invasion began. On March 19, each side returned 175 captives in a deal that was described as unprecedented for its scale and timing. Russian officials highlighted this exchange as a major diplomatic event—all while tying it to the idea of renewed peace during Easter.

Russian authorities positioned the ceasefire and the exchange as two sides of the same coin—portraying them as steps toward de-escalation, at least in the public eye. The Kremlin's narrative suggested that the recent goodwill shown in the prisoner swap created a window for a temporary truce. This sequencing helped shape international perceptions, painting Russia’s actions as part of a larger strategy rooted in humanitarian values, even as fighting persisted in parts of Ukraine.

• Largest POW swap since invasion: 175 prisoners exchanged on each side
• Diplomatic framing: Both events emphasized as steps toward decreasing conflict
• Public messaging: Russian officials linked the truce directly to the spirit of reconciliation after the exchange

For more background on the recent prisoner swap, visit the AP's coverage of the Russia-Ukraine exchange. The timing of these moves highlights how gestures of peace and conflict often happen side-by-side, keeping both hope and uncertainty alive for those living through the war.

Ukrainian Response and Continued Hostilities

Despite the public promise of a ceasefire from the Kremlin, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remained tense. Ukrainian authorities reported fresh drone attacks and active air defense operations, making it clear that the fighting was far from paused in many regions. The shadow of ongoing violence hung over Easter celebrations, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke out about the reality Ukrainians faced. In this section, we look at the Ukrainian response and the impact of continued drone strikes during the announced truce.

Zelenskyy’s Statements and Air Defense Activity

President Zelenskyy did not mince words about the so-called Easter ceasefire. He outlined how, in cities such as Odesa and Sumy, air raid sirens forced people into shelters as Russian drones targeted civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian air defenses worked through the holiday, intercepting drones and warning communities about the danger overhead. Instead of a peaceful pause, many Ukrainians spent Easter night listening to explosions and alerts.

Zelenskyy’s public comments drove home the message that Moscow’s promises did not match the facts on the ground. He emphasized Ukraine’s readiness to defend its territory, highlighting the sharp contrast between official statements and everyday reality. Reports from sources like the New York Times confirm that Ukrainian forces launched countermeasures as soon as attacks started, showing clear resolve.

Key points include:

• Continuous air defense operations: Ukrainian forces stayed on high alert throughout the truce window.
• Active response to attacks: Air defense units shot down multiple drones, keeping civilian casualties lower than they might have been.
• Public skepticism: Zelenskyy’s speeches echoed the mood of a population forced to distrust official Russian statements.

Impact of Russian Drone Strikes

While Putin’s truce order captured headlines, Russian drone strikes cut through the quiet the ceasefire was supposed to bring. Overnight attacks damaged buildings in Odesa and Sumy, sparking fires and alarm. Emergency crews rushed to the scenes, putting out blazes and counting the wounded. Local officials reported:

• Power outages in several districts after strikes damaged energy infrastructure.
• Injuries and property loss among civilians, as debris rained down on apartment blocks and city streets.

Photo by Алесь Усцінаў

Drone warfare has reshaped the conflict, allowing Russian forces to threaten cities far from the front lines. Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies note the rising use of long-range drones across Ukraine. The latest attacks followed the same pattern—cheap, hard-to-stop drones launched overnight, targeting both residential and vital infrastructure.

The real cost can be seen in shaken families forced to shelter underground and in the scars left on Ukraine’s urban centers. With these attacks continuing despite high-level announcements, local officials and citizens have found little faith in the promise of a holiday ceasefire. Reports from The Independent provide further coverage of how drone strikes shattered any hope for even a brief respite, making holidays in Ukraine feel like just another day under threat.

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