Easter truce: Putin orders ceasefire for Orthodox Holidays

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a ceasefire on the occasion of the Orthodox Easter. This was announced by the Kremlin press service, specifying that the truce will take effect at 4:00 PM Moscow time on April 11 and will continue until midnight on April 12, 2026.

During the period of suspension of hostilities, the Russian armed forces will be ordered to halt combat operations on all fronts, while maintaining full operational capacity to respond to any provocations or offensive actions by the enemy. Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and the Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, have been tasked with implementing the directive.

The Kremlin also expressed the hope that Kyiv will follow Moscow’s example by declaring its own ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter holidays.

This is not the first time Russia has adopted such a measure: last year, Putin also proclaimed an Easter truce in the special operations zone, though that one extended over a longer period, covering three days of festivities.

Photo Kremlin.ru