Russia refused to establish a truce in its invasion of Ukraine during Orthodox Easter

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, regretted late this Thursday that Russia has rejected the proposal proposed by the United Nations to establish a truce during Orthodox Easter, which is celebrated next April 24.

“This shows very well how the leaders of this state really treat the Christian faith, one of the most joyful and important holidays,” Zelensky said in his usual evening speech, as recorded in a presidential statement.

Russia rejected UN Secretary-General António Guterres's proposal to declare a four-day humanitarian ceasefire during Orthodox Easter to remove civilians from Mariupol and bring humanitarian aid to war-torn areas.

On the other hand, Zelensky reiterated during his speech his thanks to the partners for providing aid to Ukraine and assured that the port city of Mariupol resists the invasion of Russian troops.

“I thank my partners for their help and urge them to accelerate the supply of the necessary weapons to Ukraine so that we can achieve peace,” Zelensky emphasized. He also emphasized that Mariupol is a city that continues to resist Russia. “Despite everything the invaders say about it,” he said.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymir Zelensky, accused Russia of planning to falsify an independence referendum in the partially occupied southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

In a video message Thursday night, Zelensky urged residents of areas under occupation not to provide any personal information, such as their passport numbers, to Russian forces.

“This is not to help them... This is aimed at falsifying the so-called referendum on their land, if an order comes from Moscow to organize such a show,” said the Ukrainian leader. “This is the reality. Be careful,” he added.

Kiev accused Moscow in early March of planning a referendum in Kherson similar to the 2014 Crimean elections, in which an overwhelming number of residents voted to join the Russian federation.

To the north, the Russian army also controls a vast area surrounding the city of Zaporizhzhia, which remains in Ukrainian hands.

The Ukrainian president also declared on Thursday that Russia had rejected a proposal for a truce during this weekend's Orthodox Christian Easter period, but added that he still has hope for peace.

The Orthodox Easter service begins late on Saturday.

The president said that Russian troops have killed a total of 1,126 civilians, at least 40 of them minors, in the Kiev region since the beginning of the war initiated by Russia in late February.

(With information from Europa Press)

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