Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 30-hour ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter, pausing military operations from Saturday evening through Monday midnight. The announcement was framed as a humanitarian gesture to allow for peaceful religious observances.

Despite the announcement, Ukraine has expressed strong doubts about Russia’s motives. Ukrainian leadership accused Moscow of using the ceasefire for propaganda purposes while continuing attacks in multiple regions. Reports of drone strikes and missile attacks during the truce window have only deepened skepticism.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy questioned the credibility of the truce, pointing to recent shelling and attacks on civilian areas. He emphasized that previous Russian ceasefire declarations have often gone ignored on the battlefield, leading to mistrust of any current overtures.

The timing of the ceasefire coincides with international pressure for meaningful peace efforts, especially from Western allies. Meanwhile, both countries agreed to a large prisoner swap, exchanging hundreds of captives in one of the most significant exchanges since the beginning of the conflict.