April 21, 2025 — Moscow/Kyiv — Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Monday that military operations in Ukraine have resumed following the end of a temporary Easter ceasefire. The Kremlin had unilaterally declared the pause in hostilities over the Orthodox Easter weekend, though both sides accused each other of violating the truce.

Speaking from Moscow, Putin stated that while the ceasefire was intended to honor the religious holiday, Russia remains open to peace initiatives and “expects the same constructive attitude from Kyiv.” He did not specify the nature of ongoing military actions or whether new offensives were underway.

The Ukrainian government, however, denied violating the ceasefire and blamed Russia for continuing strikes throughout the weekend. Ukrainian officials reported multiple shelling incidents in the eastern and southern regions, calling the ceasefire a “cynical facade” to regroup and reposition Russian forces.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense alleged that Ukrainian forces carried out “thousands of provocations and strikes” during the truce, a claim Kyiv dismissed as propaganda aimed at justifying renewed aggression.

The brief Easter pause was met with skepticism from both international observers and Ukrainian civilians, many of whom have grown wary of Russian ceasefire declarations amid previous violations.

As fighting resumes, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate remain stalled, with no concrete movement toward new negotiations. Analysts warn that renewed combat could further inflame an already protracted and devastating conflict.