 "Ukraine claims 'heavy shelling' by Russia after Easter truce announcement")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday (April 19) claimed Russia was still attacking Kyiv forces using drones even as President Vladimir Putin earlier announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire earlier in the day.
Zelenskyy said the continued attacks showed Moscow’s “true attitude to Easter and the lives of people.”
Taking to X, the Ukrainian president claimed: “As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives – at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine”
“Shahed (attack) drones in our skies reveal Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life,” he added, without clarifying whether his nation would observe the proposed truce.
His statement came after Putin announced a 30-hour ceasefire in Ukraine starting 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 19 (Moscow time).
Putin made the announcement after meeting with Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov, asking Kyiv to show goodwill and observe the temporary truce.
However, Putin cautioned Russian forces regarding potential violations of the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces during the 30-hour halt.
Ukrainian foreign minister reacts
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha meanwhile warned Russia’s words can’t be trusted. He said Kyiv has endured “a long history of his statements not matching his actions”. “We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words,” he wrote on X.
Later, Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraine’s national security and defence council, claimed Russia continued pounding Ukrainian cities.
“The Russians keep firing on all fronts — just like before,” he wrote on X.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“The heaviest shelling is in the East. So much for Putin’s so-called ‘ceasefire’. He never meant to keep it.”
News agency AFP also cited several Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines in reporting that they were sceptical of the truce announcement.
“I think this man (Putin) is evil, a murderer, but he can do it. He might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don’t trust. These 30 hours will lead to nothing," AFP quoted a soldier as saying.
(With inputs from agencies)
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