Moscow, April 19, 2025 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for the Easter holiday, ordering Russian forces to halt all military operations from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday until midnight Sunday, citing humanitarian reasons.
“Guided by humanitarian considerations, the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period,” Putin told military officials at the Kremlin.
Putin expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate, but instructed Russian troops to remain vigilant and ready to repel any violations or provocations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not formally responded to the ceasefire, but criticized Moscow’s sincerity, pointing to ongoing Russian drone attacks as evidence of continued aggression.
The ceasefire announcement coincided with reports from Russia’s Defense Ministry that Russian forces had regained control of the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border, following heavy fighting. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed this claim, and independent verification remains pending.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian air defense units reported intercepting Russian drones overnight, with dozens shot down or jammed electronically. Russian attacks reportedly damaged farms in the Odesa region and caused fires in Sumy, though no casualties were reported.
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The war, now in its third year, began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Easter ceasefire comes as international efforts to broker peace continue, with U.S. officials warning that patience for negotiations may be running out.
