Russia and Ukraine Announce Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter holiday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to halt combat operations over the weekend.

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The truce is scheduled to begin at 16:00 local time on Saturday, 11 April, and last through Easter Sunday. Moscow said Russian troops had been instructed to cease fire “in all directions” during the period.

Putin also said Russian forces should remain prepared to respond to any “enemy provocations” or aggressive actions during the pause.

Ukraine signals readiness to reciprocate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was prepared to mirror Russia’s actions if the ceasefire is implemented.

Posting on X shortly after Moscow’s announcement, Zelensky said Ukraine was “ready for symmetrical steps”.

“People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace,” he wrote, adding that Russia had an opportunity not to resume attacks after the holiday period.

Earlier in the week, Zelensky said he had asked the United States to convey Kyiv’s proposal for a holiday truce to Moscow as an initial confidence-building measure.

Fighting continues ahead of truce

If the ceasefire takes effect, it would provide a brief pause in a conflict that has continued along a lengthy frontline in eastern Ukraine, where soldiers are frequently targeted by drones and artillery fire.

Across Ukraine, civilians have continued to face missile and drone attacks as air raid sirens sound regularly.

In recent incidents, several people were killed when a drone struck a bus in the southeastern city of Nikopol. In Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, a woman died after a missile landed near her home during the morning.

Air raid alerts were again reported in Kyiv shortly after the weekend truce was announced.

Ukraine has also intensified drone strikes against targets inside Russia, particularly infrastructure linked to energy exports. Russian authorities say some of the attacks have also damaged residential buildings.

Doubts over durability of pause

Despite the announcement, many in Ukraine remain doubtful that the ceasefire will hold.

Earlier this year, Russia declared what it described as an “energy truce”, saying it would halt attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure during winter. Ukrainian officials said the pause was brief before strikes resumed.

A similar unilateral pause declared by Russia last May to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany was also followed by numerous alleged violations. Ukrainian authorities said hundreds of breaches were recorded at the time.

Kyiv has repeatedly called for a comprehensive ceasefire as a first step toward negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s invasion.

Moscow, however, has insisted that any cessation of hostilities should follow the agreement of a broader peace settlement, leading Ukrainian officials to question whether Russia is genuinely seeking to end the war.

Several rounds of diplomatic talks have taken place, with the United States acting as a mediator, but the process has stalled after former US President Donald Trump shifted his attention toward developments in the Middle East.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 10 April 2026