Near the front lines in eastern Ukraine, 41-year-old soldier Sergiy couldn’t help but laugh when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s newly declared unilateral truce, supposedly in effect on Thursday.
“Has it started?” he replied, sarcastically.
For Sergiy and others stationed in Kramatorsk—just 20 kilometres from active combat zones—Thursday felt like any other day in the fourth year of a gruelling war. Despite Putin’s announcement that Russian forces would pause combat operations from Thursday to Saturday in honour of Moscow’s Victory Day on May 9, Ukrainians on the ground saw no sign of peace.
Kyiv quickly dismissed the gesture, calling it nothing more than political theatre meant to shield a high-profile military parade in Moscow. Instead, the Ukrainian government has pushed for a full 30-day ceasefire, a plan supported by U.S. President Donald Trump but rejected by the Kremlin.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga described Putin’s declaration as a “farce,” citing reports of hundreds of attempted Russian attacks since midnight—the time the truce was meant to begin. Soldiers and civilians alike expressed scepticism, pointing to continued fighting on multiple fronts.
“There were still strikes last night,” said Andriy, a 50-year-old soldier in Kramatorsk.
Another soldier stationed near Toretsk confirmed Russia was still launching infantry attacks, though he noted a temporary absence of airstrikes. “Only there are no Russian planes in the sky for now,” he said.
“There’s no truce, just medium-intensity fighting,” added the commander of a drone unit, speaking anonymously.
This short-term ceasefire is Russia’s second in as many months. During an earlier 30-hour pause to mark Easter, aerial strikes briefly ceased, but both sides accused each other of violating the agreement thousands of times.
More than three years into Russia’s invasion—which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions—Ukrainians say they have little faith in Kremlin promises.
“There is no hope they’ll keep their word,” said Victoria, a 43-year-old bank worker in Kramatorsk.
In Kyiv, the mood was similar. “When has Russia ever kept its promises?” asked 73-year-old Anatoly Pavlovych.
Diplomatic efforts to secure a longer-term truce have faltered. The U.S. has hinted it may step back from mediating unless Moscow and Kyiv agree to direct talks. President Zelensky has stated that such negotiations can only happen once a sustained ceasefire is in place.
Yuri, a 39-year-old soldier, expressed doubt about Ukraine’s chances of a military victory. “We won’t win physically. Only through pressure—from every side. We don’t have enough people or resources,” he said.
Zelensky has also acknowledged that diplomacy, not just military power, will be necessary to reclaim some of Ukraine’s lost territories.
Still, the desire for peace remains strongest among those on the battlefield.
“Of course, we want peace,” said Andriy. “We want it most of all—because we know what death is.”
