Orthodox Easter Truce Announced
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a truce for Orthodox Easter, with Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing that he has ordered troops to cease fire "in all directions" over the weekend.
Putin's declaration followed repeated calls for a ceasefire by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which had previously been ignored by the Kremlin.
Putin stated that the Russian truce would commence from 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday, 11 April, continuing through Easter Sunday. He expressed an expectation that Ukraine would "follow the example" set by Russia. Additionally, he instructed Russian forces to remain prepared to intercept "possible enemy provocations" and any "aggressive actions."
The tone of Russia’s announcement and its attempt to take the initiative are likely to be met with skepticism by Ukrainians.
Ukraine's Response to the Truce
Shortly after the announcement, Zelensky posted on X that Ukraine was "ready for symmetrical steps."
"People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace," he wrote. "Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well."
Earlier in the week, Zelensky had indicated that he requested the United States to convey a proposal for a holiday weekend truce to Moscow as an initial step.
Impact on Frontline Soldiers and Civilians
Any pause in fighting would provide relief to soldiers stationed along the extensive front line in eastern Ukraine, where they face constant attacks from drones.
It would also offer civilians across Ukraine a brief respite from the daily threat of air raid sirens, Russian missiles, and drone strikes, which continue to cause casualties.
Recently, several civilians were killed when a drone targeted a bus in Nikopol, located in the south-east. In Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv, a woman died after a missile struck near her home during the morning hours.
Despite the truce announcement, air raid sirens sounded again in Kyiv late on Thursday night.
Overnight, two individuals were killed in the Dnipropetrovsk region, east of Dnipro city, and two others died in the Kharkiv region in the north. Civilians also sustained injuries in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
In the southern Odesa region, the military governor reported drone attacks "almost the entire night," resulting in damage to energy and port infrastructure.
Ongoing Drone Strikes and Military Actions
Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks on Russia, focusing particularly on Russian energy exports through a series of intense strikes. Russia reported that residential houses were also hit during these attacks.
If the truce takes effect on Saturday, many Ukrainians remain doubtful about its durability.
Historical Context of Ceasefires
Earlier this year, Russia announced an "energy truce," temporarily halting its damaging strikes on Ukraine's power plants during winter. However, this pause lasted only long enough for Russia to prepare missiles for subsequent major attacks.
Last May, Russia declared a unilateral ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. During that period, Ukraine recorded hundreds of violations of the ceasefire.
Perspectives from Soldiers on the Frontline
Soldiers interviewed by the BBC from the frontline expressed low expectations regarding the truce.
Ivan, currently recovering in hospital from an injury, stated that no agreement with Russia was "worth even the paper it was written on" and described the truce as nonsense.
Another soldier commented that while agreeing to a ceasefire was "appropriate," it would not be observed by the Russian side. "They have repeatedly proven to us and to the whole world that they are not human," he wrote from a village formerly occupied by Russian forces.
Diplomatic Efforts and Challenges
Kyiv’s primary objective remains a full and stable ceasefire, which it views as a necessary first step toward negotiating a lasting resolution to Russia's invasion.
However, Moscow insists that a peace deal must be agreed upon first, leading to accusations from Kyiv that Russia is not serious about ending the conflict.
Several rounds of negotiations have taken place, with the United States acting as a mediator. Nonetheless, the process has stalled since former US President Donald Trump shifted his focus to the Middle East.
