World

SOFREP Morning Brief: Zelensky Says Russian Attacks Continue Despite Easter Truce, Consolidation of US Forces in Syria, Naval Academy Cancels Lecture on Wisdom

BY Guy D. McCardle

Happy Easter! Welcome to Sunday, April 20th, 2025. Here’s what’s making news today: Russia shatters its Easter ceasefire with continued strikes in Ukraine, the Pentagon halves its troop presence in Syria, the Naval Academy cancels Ryan Holiday’s speech, and VP JD Vance heads to India for pivotal trade talks.

Fires rage in the Sumy region of Ukraine after Russian missiles strike the area. Image Credit: State Emergency Services of Ukraine

Despite the Kremlin’s public announcement of a temporary ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, Russian military operations in Ukraine have continued unabated, casting serious doubt on Moscow’s stated intentions. Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a 30-hour pause in hostilities, from 6 p.m. on April 19 to midnight on April 21, ostensibly to mark the religious holiday and test Ukraine’s willingness to pursue peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by offering to extend the truce to a full 30 days, provided that Russia genuinely halted its aggression.

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However, Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials made clear they suspected the ceasefire announcement was a public relations maneuver aimed at international audiences rather than a sincere effort to de-escalate the conflict. Remember that old Peanuts cartoon where Lucy is holding a football and reassures “Chuck” she won’t pull it out from under him yet again, with the result of him falling on his ass? She always does. This is kind of like that.

And that skepticism appears well-founded. According to Ukrainian sources and independent monitors, the Russian military has carried out sustained attacks despite the ceasefire window. On Easter morning alone, Zelensky reported 59 shelling incidents and five assault attempts overnight. Even more alarming, in the six hours leading up to midnight on Saturday—the supposed start of the ceasefire—there were 387 reported shellings and 19 direct assaults.

Russian drones were also reportedly used 290 times during that same period. Zelensky accused Moscow of attempting to create the illusion of restraint while continuing localized offensive operations against Ukrainian positions.
Air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv and several other regions shortly after the truce was set to begin, signaling that the threat of missile and drone attacks had not abated.

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These violations follow a broader pattern of increased Russian strikes on civilian targets, with recent attacks in Kharkiv and Sumy resulting in heavy civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. The Ukrainian military has documented and publicized these continued violations, emphasizing the scale and persistence of Russian aggression.

The international response has mirrored Ukraine’s disillusionment. The United States and Ukraine had previously proposed a more substantial 30-day ceasefire, which Russia rejected. In light of the ongoing attacks, U.S. officials have voiced growing frustration with what they see as a lack of genuine interest in peace from Moscow. Washington has even floated the possibility of withdrawing from any future peace negotiations if Russia continues to disregard its own declared truces.

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In the end, the so-called Easter ceasefire seems more symbolic than substantive. While Putin tried to frame it as a goodwill gesture and a litmus test for Ukraine’s commitment to peace, the situation on the ground paints a different picture—one marked by continued violence, strategic deception, and unrelenting hostility.

 

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Pentagon Announces Consolidation of US Forces in Syria

The Pentagon has announced a major reshuffling of U.S. military forces in Syria, signaling a shift in operational priorities following years of sustained counterterrorism efforts. The Department of Defense confirmed it will reduce the American footprint in the country from roughly 2,000 troops to fewer than 1,000 over the coming months. This isn’t a hasty withdrawal but a calculated, conditions-based consolidation aimed at refining the mission rather than abandoning it. As part of the drawdown, several smaller outposts in northeastern Syria—including Mission Support Site Green Village and M.S.S. Euphrates—will be shuttered, consolidating operations into a leaner, more agile footprint.

The Pentagon’s rationale is grounded in its assessment that ISIS no longer poses the same territorial threat it once did. Since the collapse of the so-called caliphate in 2019, U.S. and coalition forces have steadily degraded the group’s ability to mount large-scale operations. According to the press release, American efforts have “significantly disrupted” ISIS’ capabilities not only in Syria but across the broader region. That said, the job isn’t done. The U.S. military, operating under U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), will maintain the capability to launch targeted operations against ISIS remnants and will continue its collaboration with local partners.

One of those key partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), remains central to America’s strategy. Despite the reduction in troop numbers, U.S. forces will continue working alongside the SDF to monitor and contain ISIS activity, as well as manage detention facilities housing captured fighters and their families. This long-standing relationship has been pivotal in the fight against jihadist extremism in the region.

The backdrop to this announcement includes a rapidly changing regional security environment. The troop surge that followed the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023—and the subsequent threats from Iranian-backed militias—has since been reevaluated. Moreover, the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 has shifted the dynamics on the ground, allowing for some strategic breathing room, even as ISIS continues to stir in the northeastern provinces.

The Pentagon emphasized that this drawdown doesn’t signal a retreat from the fight but rather a recalibration. The U.S. retains significant strike and surveillance capabilities throughout the region and has left the door open to adjusting its force posture as new threats emerge. In short, the United States isn’t packing up—it’s streamlining for what comes next.

 

 

Naval Academy Cancels Ryan Holiday’s Speech About Wisdom

Ryan Holiday, a bestselling author known for his work on Stoicism and leadership, was set to give a talk at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on April 14, 2025. He’s spoken there before, usually focusing on how timeless philosophical ideas apply to military service. This time, he was invited to speak to the sophomore class about the pursuit of wisdom.

But the talk didn’t happen.

Roughly an hour before he was supposed to go on, Holiday got a call from Academy officials. They told him to remove part of his presentation that mentioned the Academy’s recent removal of 381 books from its library. That decision to pull the books was tied to a federal executive order aimed at eliminating certain DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) materials. Holiday had planned to use that move as an example in a larger point about critical thinking, courage, and leadership.

The Navy asked him to drop it, saying they didn’t want to introduce political issues into the classroom. Holiday refused. He felt that backing down would go against the very message he was there to deliver—standing up for what’s right and thinking independently. He later said:

“I couldn’t stand before these midshipmen discussing courage and doing what is right, and then omit what I believe is a valid objection to a very troubling decision.”

The Naval Academy later described the cancellation as a simple schedule change. They emphasized their goal of keeping things apolitical and focused on preparing midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically for military service. But the situation didn’t go unnoticed. Holiday criticized the move publicly, calling it a form of censorship. Others have taken it as a sign of deeper problems—raising concerns about whether future military leaders are being shielded from difficult but important conversations.

This incident comes in the middle of a wider national debate about book bans and DEI efforts in schools and government institutions. For Holiday, it wasn’t just about one speech being cancelled. It was about whether we’re willing to let our leaders confront complex, even uncomfortable, ideas—or whether we’d rather pretend those ideas don’t exist.

 

 

Vance To Head To India To Talk Trade

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to make his first official visit to India from April 21 to 24, 2025—a trip that’s shaping up to be more than just a diplomatic formality. This visit represents a significant push by the Trump administration to deepen economic and strategic ties with one of America’s key partners in the Indo-Pacific. Vance’s agenda is packed, and the stakes are high. With global trade tensions mounting—particularly with China—Washington sees New Delhi as a critical counterbalance in the region, both economically and geopolitically.

At the heart of the trip is a renewed push for a bilateral trade agreement aimed at more than doubling current trade levels to $500 billion by 2030. Right now, U.S.-India trade sits at about $190 billion. Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to hash out terms that could open the Indian market to more U.S. agricultural and dairy products, while India, for its part, is eager to boost exports in sectors like processed foods, auto components, medical devices, and jewelry. Both sides want to resolve the current trade irritants, particularly reciprocal tariffs that have stirred tension under Trump’s trade-first foreign policy.

Strategic and technological cooperation will also be front and center. With growing concern over Chinese expansionism, the U.S. and India are expected to strengthen ties through initiatives like ASIA and TRUST—focusing on security in the Indo-Pacific, artificial intelligence, and drone technology. Vance’s discussions with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other senior officials will cover a wide range of regional and global issues, from defense coordination to shared interests in technological innovation.

Adding a personal and symbolic touch to the trip, Vance will be joined by his wife, Usha Vance—who is of Indian descent—and their children. Their presence highlights the growing cultural and educational bonds between the two nations. The itinerary includes stops in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, blending high-level diplomatic meetings with a nod to India’s rich history and tradition.

This visit follows a flurry of recent high-level exchanges, including Modi’s trip to Washington and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s visit to India. The momentum behind U.S.-India relations is undeniable, and JD Vance’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment. With China’s influence expanding and trade partnerships in flux, Washington is looking to New Delhi as a reliable partner on multiple fronts. If successful, this trip could mark a turning point—setting the stage for a more robust, mutually beneficial alliance between the world’s largest democracy and its oldest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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