"Ukrainian Forces Violate Easter Ceasefire with HIMARS Strikes, Claims Russia"

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Ukrainian forces utilized US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems against Russian targets, marking a significant violation of the 30-hour Easter ceasefire that ended at midnight on Monday. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed disappointment about Ukraine's failure to adhere to the truce during the Easter period, which had been recently suggested for extension by the US State Department.

Zakharova emphasized that the Ukrainian military's actions were not isolated incidents, suggesting a trend of targeting civilian infrastructure even during agreed-upon ceasefires. She criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky's commitment to uphold agreements, claiming that attacks were launched despite his assurances.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported over 1,300 artillery and drone strikes following the commencement of the ceasefire. Concurrently, Zelensky accused Russia of executing approximately 3,000 violations on their part. Ukraine's military reportedly inflicted damage on vital infrastructure, including a significant attack on March 21 against a gas metering station in Sudzha, a key part of the pipeline supplying gas to Europe, according to Russian sources.