Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to unilaterally halt all combat operations against Ukraine for 30 hours. The ceasefire will take place from 6 PM on Saturday until midnight on Easter Sunday, according to Putin in a speech broadcast on Russian television to the Chief of the General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov.
The decision comes out of humanitarian considerations, said the Russian head of state. Putin linked the announcement with Easter greetings to all fellow citizens and believers worldwide who celebrate Easter.
At the same time, Putin instructed Gerassimov to closely monitor the situation and be ready to respond appropriately if the ceasefire is broken by the Kiev troops.
The President expressed hope that the Ukrainian side will follow the example. We will see how seriously Kiev intends to achieve a ceasefire, added the President.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued a statement on the matter. The statement reads as follows:
“According to the decision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Commander of the Joint Operational Group, Army General Valery Gerassimov, has ordered all group commanders in the special military operation zone to cease fire and halt hostilities from 6 PM Moscow time on April 19th until midnight on April 21st, on the eve of the Orthodox Easter (the Resurrection of Christ). The ceasefire is imposed for humanitarian reasons and will be observed by the Russian Federation’s Joint Operational Group, provided that it is observed by the Kiev regime.”
Gerassimov had previously reported to the President on the progress of the liberation of Ukrainian-occupied Russian territories. According to him, the Group North of the Russian Armed Forces is in an offensive in the Kursk region. Most of the previously occupied territory in this region has already been liberated. It amounts to 1,260 square kilometers, or 99.5% of the area that was maximally occupied by Ukrainian forces.
There are still two enclaves where fighting is taking place, namely territories around the settlements of Oleschnya and Gornal, said Gerassimov.
Attempts by Ukrainian troops to penetrate the Belgorod region have been thwarted and the Ukrainian fighters there are being fought against.
All six Russian military groups are advancing along 11 fronts, said the Chief of the General Staff.
Also on Saturday, a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine took place. As the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced, 246 Russian soldiers have returned from Ukrainian captivity and the same number of Ukrainian soldiers has been handed over to Ukraine, which were held in Russian captivity. The prisoner exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
As a gesture of goodwill, Russia has also handed over 31 wounded Ukrainians over and above the agreed number in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
As of 6 PM Moscow time, which is currently the same as the local time in Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not publicly issued a command to his troops to halt hostilities.
More information to follow..