A ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Russia and Ukraine appeared to come under serious pressure on Sunday, only on the second day of its implementation, as both sides accused each other of repeatedly violating the temporary truce through continued military attacks and battlefield operations.
The three-day ceasefire, announced on Friday by US President Donald Trump, was part of a broader American diplomatic effort aimed at bringing an end to the war that has continued for more than four years. Despite months of negotiations, international mediation and shuttle diplomacy, the conflict has remained unresolved, with fighting continuing across several regions of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russian drone attacks on areas located near the front line killed at least three people on Sunday. Authorities also reported that more than 200 clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces had taken place since early Saturday, suggesting that intense combat activity was continuing despite the ceasefire arrangement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that while Russia appeared to have reduced large-scale missile and aerial bombardments, its military continued offensive operations in sectors of the front line where Russian forces are attempting to advance.
In his evening address, Zelenskyy said that the Russian army was not truly observing any meaningful silence along the front. He added that Ukrainian troops were continuing to defend their positions and respond to attacks where necessary. According to him, Russia was not making serious efforts to fully respect the ceasefire conditions on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry accused Ukraine of violating the truce as well. Russian officials claimed that air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones over the previous 24 hours. The ministry also stated that Russian forces had “responded in kind” during military engagements along the front line.
Zelenskyy additionally said that he expected the United States to guarantee the implementation of a previously agreed prisoner exchange involving 1,000 prisoners of war from each side. The exchange had reportedly been included as part of the broader ceasefire arrangement.
Earlier in the week, both Russia and Ukraine had separately announced temporary ceasefires — Ukraine beginning on Wednesday and Russia on Friday — but both governments quickly accused each other of breaking the agreements almost immediately after they came into effect.
In southern and eastern Ukraine, regional officials reported multiple casualties linked to Russian attacks. Authorities stated that one person each was killed in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions as a result of Russian drone strikes.
In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that eight people, including two children, were injured during drone attacks targeting the regional capital and surrounding settlements.
Regional authorities in the Kherson region also reported that seven people, including one child, had been wounded in drone or artillery attacks since early Saturday. Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said the attacks continued despite the supposed ceasefire period.
Ukraine’s State Emergencies Service stated that Russian forces additionally targeted one of its rescue vehicles in the Dnipropetrovsk region using a drone strike. According to officials, the attack injured a 23-year-old rescue vehicle driver.
Despite the ongoing fighting, Ukraine’s air force noted that Russia had launched 27 long-range drones overnight, which was lower than the number usually launched during previous large-scale attacks. Ukrainian officials claimed that air defence systems successfully shot down all of the drones.
Ukraine’s General Staff later reported that nearly 210 separate combat clashes had taken place along the approximately 1,200-kilometre front line since early Saturday. Independent verification of the battlefield reports was not immediately possible.
The military conflict remains heavily concentrated in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces continue conducting offensive operations aimed at capturing the remaining territory still under Ukrainian control. Moscow has repeatedly demanded that Kyiv cede the region as part of any future settlement discussions.
Peace negotiations backed by the United States have reportedly stalled over several major disagreements, including territorial control issues and the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is the largest nuclear power facility in Europe.
Russian officials also appeared to send mixed messages regarding the prospects for peace. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Saturday that a peaceful resolution remained “a very long way” away, while Russian President Vladimir Putin separately suggested that the war could be “coming to an end.”
Further diplomatic efforts are expected to continue in the coming days. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov reportedly told Russian news agency Interfax that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow “soon enough” for additional discussions related to the conflict and possible peace arrangements.
On Friday, Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said he had met Witkoff and Kushner in Miami to discuss humanitarian matters and coordinate further diplomatic steps aimed at moving the peace process forward.
Separately, Germany rejected a proposal reportedly suggested by Putin that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could help coordinate discussions with the European Union regarding a possible peace agreement for Ukraine.
