Russia has announced a temporary ceasefire in its ongoing war with Ukraine, citing observance of Orthodox Easter, one of the most significant dates on the Christian calendar.
The directive was issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered a halt to combat operations from 4:00 p.m. on April 11 until the end of April 12, 2026.
Moscow said the pause is intended as a humanitarian gesture, but signalled that its forces would remain fully prepared for any escalation.
According to the Kremlin, Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have been tasked with overseeing implementation of the ceasefire across all operational zones.
Despite the announcement, Russian troops have been instructed to stay on high alert and respond decisively to any provocations or violations during the ceasefire period.
Russia has called on Kyiv to mirror the move, urging Ukrainian forces to observe a similar pause in fighting during the Easter celebrations.
However, the announcement comes amid continued mistrust between the two sides, with previous ceasefire attempts in the conflict failing to hold.
The brief truce underscores both the symbolic role of religious observances in wartime diplomacy and the fragile nature of efforts to de-escalate a conflict that has shown little sign of ending.
