As Easter celebrations begin, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine, promising to maintain military readiness despite the truce. The humanitarian ceasefire is set to last until midnight on Monday.
Easter Truce in Ukraine: A Temporary Ceasefire Announced by Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday, with the ceasefire set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday to midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.
Understanding the Truce and Its Implications
According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire is guided by humanitarian considerations and will be observed by both sides until midnight on Monday. However, Putin also warned that Russian troops must remain ready to repel any violations of the truce or provocations from Ukrainian forces.
The announcement came as Russian forces continued to push back against Ukrainian positions in Ukraine, including the recent retaking of most of the Kursk region. The region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year, has become a key bargaining chip for both sides.
Ongoing Fighting and Attacks
Despite the ceasefire announcement, fighting continues in various parts of Ukraine. Russian forces have been engaged in fierce battles with Ukrainian troops in the village of Gornal, some 7 miles south of Oleshnya, where they are still trying to push out Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, Russia’s air defense systems shot down two ‘Ukrainian drones’ overnight into Saturday.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that Russian attacks damaged farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region overnight. However, no casualties were reported as a result of the fires.
Recent Developments
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday. Of these, 33 were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
