Ukrainians Doubt Easter Ceasefire After Deadly Pre-Truce Strikes

Ukrainians reacted with deep skepticism to Russia’s pledge of an Orthodox Easter ceasefire after deadly overnight attacks, just hours before the truce was due to begin, AFP reported.

Ukrainian authorities said Russian drone strikes killed one person and injured at least 15 others ahead of the planned pause. In the central city of Poltava, a drone hit a store and a cafe, killing one civilian and wounding another. In the northeastern Sumy region, attacks on residential areas injured 14 people, including a 14-year-old boy and an 87-year-old woman.

The Kremlin said the 32-hour ceasefire would begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday and run through Sunday, describing it as a halt to fighting “in all directions.” Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was prepared to reciprocate.

But in Kyiv, few appeared convinced.

After more than four years of war and repeated failed truces, many Ukrainians said they saw little reason to trust Moscow’s latest pledge – especially as drones continued to strike civilian areas on the eve of the supposed pause.

“No one believes in these fairytales anymore,” said Yevgeniy Lamakh, a 29-year-old IT specialist in the capital.

Others questioned why the ceasefire had not already begun.

“Even today, drones and missiles are still flying,” said Dmytro Sova, a 42-year-old actor. “If they want a ceasefire, then let them start it.”

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Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched more than 100 drones overnight, part of a sustained campaign of long-range strikes that Kyiv says has continued daily for months.

The skepticism reflects broader distrust shaped by past experience. A similar Easter ceasefire last year was marred by hundreds of reported violations, and efforts to reach a broader agreement to end the war remain stalled.

Kyiv has called for a longer, unconditional ceasefire, while Moscow has tied any pause in fighting to wider demands, including territorial concessions that Ukraine has repeatedly rejected.

“It’s hard to expect a miracle,” said Kyiv resident Yuriy Dunai. “We’ve seen this before.”