Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt combat operations for 32 hours over Orthodox Easter weekend, marking a brief respite in a war that has raged for over four years with no end in sight.
The Kremlin announced Thursday that President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to cease fire beginning 4 p.m. Moscow time Saturday through midnight Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine would reciprocate the pause, though he had previously called for such a truce.
People need an Easter without threats and a real move toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to attacks even after Easter
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President โ Radio Free Europe
The temporary ceasefire covers Orthodox Easter celebrations observed in both countries on April 12. Russia's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov instructed the General Staff to halt military operations during this period, though Russian forces remain prepared to respond to any violations.
Hours after the ceasefire announcement, violence continued. The governor of Dnipropetrovsk region reported that Russian artillery and aerial attacks killed two people, with enemy forces attacking three districts nearly 30 times with drones and artillery.
RFE/RL frames the ceasefire as a limited gesture amid stalled broader diplomacy, emphasizing US distraction with Iran and the gap between Ukrainian security demands and Russian territorial claims. The outlet presents both sides' statements without editorial judgment while noting the historical pattern of truce violations.