Vladimir Putin’s alleged forces have reportedly carried out the execution of four Ukrainian prisoners of war during a ceasefire over the Easter weekend, with accusations of multiple violations by Russian troops. The Kremlin had agreed to a temporary halt in fighting during the Orthodox Easter weekend, but Ukraine’s military claimed that Putin’s forces violated the ceasefire 2,299 times since its commencement at 6 pm local time on Saturday. Ukrainian authorities also accused Russian soldiers of killing four Ukrainian prisoners near Veterynarne, Kharkiv, on Saturday.
The reported killings of the Ukrainian prisoners occurred shortly after the start of the Easter ceasefire, as per local reports. The Ukrainian army claimed that Putin’s forces launched drone attacks in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia within the brief truce period. Ukrainian officials cited numerous ceasefire violations, including enemy shellings, drone attacks, FPV drone strikes, and enemy assault actions.
Despite the violations, Russian forces reportedly refrained from using bombs or missiles during the ceasefire breach. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need for Putin to honor the pause in fighting and strive towards achieving peace.
In a separate incident, border officials in Ukraine reported that Russian troops ambushed an ambulance in Sumy, resulting in injuries to three male medics. While Kyiv expressed readiness to respond to peace with peace, they also asserted preparedness to retaliate against any aggression from Russia.
Both sides engaged in accusations, with Russia alleging 2,000 attacks by Ukrainian forces during the truce period. Following the ceasefire’s conclusion, Zelensky urged Putin to extend the cessation of hostilities to facilitate an end to the unlawful invasion.
Zelensky reiterated the importance of maintaining the ceasefire, offering Russia the opportunity to choose peace over conflict. He emphasized that Ukrainian forces would refrain from retaliation if Russian strikes ceased, while highlighting the need for vigilance in dealing with the situation.
