Ukraine-Russia War: 32-Hour Ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, announces Putin

April 10, 2026

Amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been ongoing for the past four years, the situation has once again taken a new turn. In a sudden and major announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a temporary 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine.

This measure is set to be implemented on the occasion of Orthodox Easter. However, the question remains: is this a genuine peace initiative, or merely another strategic maneuver? Amidst ceaseless destruction, shattered cities, and stalled diplomacy, this declaration is once again fueling both hope and skepticism.

According to the Kremlin, this pause will commence at 4:00 PM on Saturday and continue until the end of Sunday. During this period, instructions have been issued to halt all military activities across all fronts. This move follows an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which he had called for a cessation of attacks during the Easter period.

Zelenskyy had specifically requested that, during this timeframe, attacks be refrained from—particularly those targeting energy-related infrastructure. He had conveyed this proposal through the United States, which has been playing the role of a mediator between the two nations.

It is worth noting that the ceasefire declared by Russia goes slightly beyond Ukraine’s original demand. The Kremlin has stated that its forces have been ordered to completely cease combat operations in all directions.

However, it was simultaneously emphasized that troops are to remain prepared to respond in the event of any provocation. The Kremlin has expressed hope that Ukraine will reciprocate by observing a similar cessation of hostilities. Yet, at the time of writing, no official response regarding this matter had been received from Kyiv.

This Has Happened Before

This is not the first instance where a temporary ceasefire has been declared during Easter or another festive occasion. Last year, a similar ceasefire—lasting approximately 30 hours—was announced; however, it collapsed shortly thereafter. At that time, both nations accused one another of violating the truce.