Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the Easter holiday period. The announcement from the Kremlin on Saturday detailed that the truce would commence at 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) and continue until midnight (2100 GMT) after Easter Sunday.
The decision, described as being guided by humanitarian considerations, was communicated during a meeting between Putin and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The Russian leader emphasized the expectation that Ukrainian forces would reciprocate the ceasefire. However, he instructed Russian troops to remain vigilant against any potential violations or provocations during the truce.
On the same day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its forces had successfully expelled Ukrainian troops from one of their last strongholds in the Kursk region, specifically taking control of the village of Oleshnya, which lies on the border with Ukraine. This claim has not been independently verified, and Ukrainian officials have yet to issue a response.
