By Blessing Nweke
Russia says it will halt fighting in Ukraine for Orthodox Easter, with President Vladimir Putin ordering troops to cease fire “in all directions” over the weekend. The Kremlin announced the truce would run from Saturday afternoon through Easter Sunday, urging Ukraine to follow suit while warning its forces to remain ready for “provocations” or “aggressive actions.”
The move comes after repeated calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a temporary ceasefire, which Moscow had previously ignored. Responding quickly, Zelensky said Ukraine was “ready for symmetrical steps,” adding that civilians deserved “an Easter free from threats” and expressing hope the pause could extend beyond the holiday.
Despite the announcement, scepticism remains high across Ukraine. Russia’s attempt to seize the initiative with a unilateral declaration has drawn a wary response from officials and citizens alike, given past ceasefires that quickly collapsed.
A temporary halt in fighting would offer rare relief along the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, where troops face relentless drone attacks. It could also provide a brief respite for civilians nationwide, who continue to live under the constant threat of air raid sirens, missile strikes and drone assaults.
Recent attacks underscore the stakes. In the southeastern city of Nikopol, several people were killed when a drone struck a bus, while in Zhytomyr a missile killed a woman near her home. Even after the truce was announced, sirens sounded again in Kyiv.
Ukraine has also stepped up its own drone strikes on Russian territory, targeting energy infrastructure, while Moscow claims residential areas have been hit.
Previous attempts at limited ceasefires, including an “energy truce” earlier this year and a May pause marking a World War II anniversary, were marred by hundreds of reported violations, raising doubts about whether this latest effort will hold.
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