Category: War in Ukraine

Russia's History of Ceasefire Violations and What It Can Tell Us About Today

Putin is stalling ceasefire talks. Meanwhile, Russia’s history with ceasefires in Ukraine is full of violations.

Mar 20, 2025 16:31

6 min read

Authors: Audrey MacAlpine
Author
Vlada Toporkova
Author

This week Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone with US President Donald Trump regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine. Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days while largely avoiding all other elements of the proposed deal. That very same night, Russian swarms of drones attacked Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as well as a hospital in Sumy, the regional capital in Ukraine’s northeast region.

While Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, its war against Ukraine started much earlier — with the 2014 invasion. That year, Russia not only illegally attempted to annex Crimea but also occupied parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russia’s role in Donbas was initially covert, with the Kremlin denying any direct military involvement despite overwhelming evidence of Russian troops, heavy artillery, and equipment pouring into the region.

In response, Ukraine pursued diplomatic solutions, with France and Germany brokering over 200 negotiation rounds and more than 20 ceasefire agreements. However, each was ultimately undermined by Russia.

Ceasefire agreement for Ukraine is reached on February 12, 2015, after nearly 17 hours of negotiations in Minsk involving leaders from Russia, Germany, France, Ukraine, and Donbass separatist representatives. (Photo by OSCE/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

While Ukraine seeks peace and aims to work with its allies, including the United States and Europe, to achieve a just and lasting resolution, many are skeptical whether Russia will uphold such a resolution. “Putin is highly unlikely to accept President Trump’s current peace plan.” Fox News reported.

There’s a reason Ukraine and its allies meet every new peace proposal with caution — Russia has broken countless ceasefires before:

June 20, 2014	A week-long unilateral ceasefire is declared by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Within days, Russian-backed forces resumed attacks.
August 29, 2014	Russia shelled the Ilovaisk humanitarian corridor, massacring besieged Ukrainian soldiers.
September 5, 2014	The Minsk I Ceasefire is signed by Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and European allies. Russian-backed forces immediately violate it by attacking Donetsk Airport and Mariupol.
September 19, 2014	A memorandum reinforcing Minsk I is added, outlining buffer zones and calling for the withdrawal of foreign fighters and heavy weaponry. Russia violates it instantly.
December 9, 2014	Ukraine initiates the “Day of Silence” ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid. Within hours, Russian-backed forces break the truce using artillery and small arms fire.
January 6-7, 2015	A ceasefire is in place. Russian-backed forces shelled Ukrainian positions 24 times.
February 15, 2015	Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany signed the Minsk II Ceasefire to reinforce Minsk I. The agreement lasted only a few minutes, as Russians fired on a Ukrainian checkpoint near Zolote in the Luhansk region.
September 1, 2015	The “Back-to-School” Ceasefire is agreed upon. Within days, Russian-backed forces shelled Krymske village in the Luhansk region, with at least five ceasefire violations recorded.
December 23, 2015	A ceasefire is proposed for holiday celebrations. In response, Russian-backed forces storm Kominternove (now Pikuzy) in the Donetsk region, a neutral zone under Minsk agreements, mine territory, and terrorize civilians. More Russian combat activity is recorded in the Donetsk region.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin, French President François Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko meet for peace talks in Minsk, Belarus, on February 11, 2015.

April 30, 2016	A ceasefire is organized for Orthodox Easter. Russia shells Ukrainian positions soon after. Multiple breaches are documented.
September 1, 2016	Another ceasefire attempt is made to mark the beginning of the school year. Russian-backed forces violate the ceasefire with artillery and mortar attacks. Breaches are documented by Ukrainian authorities and international monitors.
September 15, 2016	A new deal is in place, requiring a full ceasefire from midnight. Russian forces shelled Ukrainian territories at least 30 times overnight near Mariupol. Three Ukrainian soldiers are killed, and at least 30 are injured.
December 24, 2016	A ceasefire is in place. The first day of the Christmas truce is marked by widespread ceasefire violations by Russia. Skirmishes continue near Svitlodarsk and Shyrokyne.
January 5-7, 2017	Russians continue violating the ceasefire dozens of times, with up to 72 attacks in a single day reported Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
April 1, 2017	During an “Easter Ceasefire” Russian-backed forces killed four Ukrainian soldiers. Eighteen violations are recorded.
June 24, 2017	The “Bread Truce” takes effect, a ceasefire agreement for the harvest period, until August 31, establishing a “full ceasefire along the entire contact line for the harvest period,” said OSCE mediator Ambassador Martin Sajdik during the talks. Russian-backed forces attacked Ukrainian territory six times.
August 25, 2017	The “Back-to-School” ceasefire begins. Within minutes, Russia fired small arms and large-caliber machine guns at Ukrainian forces near Talakivka. Over two weeks, one Ukrainian soldier is killed, and five are wounded.
December 23, 2017	A Christmas ceasefire is declared. Ukrainian soldiers are fired upon three times on the first day.

OSCE members record ceasefire violations nearby Troitske village frontlines, Ukraine in 2017. (Photo by Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

March 5, 2018	The Spring Ceasefire is declared. Over 22 days, Russian-backed forces carried out 153 attacks, killing six Ukrainian soldiers and wounding 12.
March 30, 2018	Despite attempts at a ceasefire, six violations are recorded.
July 1, 2018	The “Bread Truce” is declared. Russian-backed forces violate it with 25 attacks on Ukrainian positions.
August 29, 2018	Another “Back-to-School” ceasefire was established in Minsk — Russian-backed forces broke it six times on day one, even firing weapons banned by the Minsk agreements.
December 29, 2018	The “New Year-Christmas Ceasefire” is declared. Russian-backed forces shelled Ukrainian positions six times on the first day.
July 21, 2019	The Indefinite Harvest Ceasefire is declared. A single shot is fired at Ukrainian positions in violation.
October 2019	The ceasefire for troop withdrawal is declared. It lasted only one day before Russian-backed forces resumed shelling, delaying the withdrawal.
July 27, 2020	The full and comprehensive ceasefire is declared in eastern Ukraine. Within 30 minutes, Russia fired on Ukraine’s 36th Separate Marine Brigade with small arms, hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, and heavy machine guns.
October 29-30, 2020	The ceasefire continues. Russian forces killed two Ukrainian marines with grenade launcher fire and wounded two others.
January 2021	175 ceasefire violations are recorded.
January 6, 2023	Russian leader Vladimir Putin announces a ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas on January 5. The next day, Ukrainian authorities reported shelling in Kherson and Kurakhove by Russian forces.

In the wake of agreeing to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infastructure, Russia strikes a hospital in Ukraine’s Sumy region. (Source: (Photo by Yehor Kryvoruchko/Kordon.Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

While violations dropped significantly in 2020, this was largely because Russia was preparing for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since 2014, Russia has repeatedly demonstrated its disregard for ceasefires, making any future agreements highly uncertain. What is certain, however, is Ukraine’s willingness to participate. On the subject, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sybiha said, “Our approach: now is a time for diplomacy, for a strong diplomacy.” Ukraine believes that positive results can be achieved with the help of its allies. “With the leadership of President Trump, we could achieve long-lasting, just peace.”