Attempts to enforce a temporary Easter ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine broke down on Saturday, as both sides traded accusations of breaches in a war that has now stretched into its fourth year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced the truce on Thursday, following an earlier proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The ceasefire was scheduled to last 32 hours, beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and ending late Sunday.
However, the agreement quickly unraveled. Ukrainian military authorities reported at least 469 violations of the ceasefire, citing continued air raids, drone strikes, artillery shelling, and attacks on both military positions and civilian areas.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russian operations during the period resulted in at least four fatalities and dozens of injuries.
In response, Ukraine also launched drone attacks that reportedly ignited a fire at an oil storage facility and caused structural damage in parts of southern Russia.
Despite the renewed hostilities, both countries carried out a limited humanitarian exchange, with each side releasing 175 prisoners of war, along with 14 civilians. One of the freed Ukrainian soldiers, Maksym, who had spent four years in captivity, described his release as surreal, expressing relief at regaining his freedom after years of detention.
Efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution remain stalled, complicated by ongoing geopolitical tensions and disagreements over territorial control.
Ukraine has indicated willingness to consider freezing the conflict along existing frontlines, while Russia insists on full control of the Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv continues to reject.
The protracted conflict has led to massive human and material losses, with hundreds of thousands of casualties and millions displaced. It remains the most deadly war in Europe since the Second World War.
While Russia made rapid territorial gains in the early stages of the invasion, its advances have slowed significantly since late 2025, with Moscow currently holding just over 19 percent of Ukrainian territory.
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