Russia and Ukraine Reach Agreement on Two-Day Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

Published: Friday, April 10, 2026 at 4:54 am

Russia and Ukraine Announce Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

In a significant development, both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary ceasefire in observance of the Orthodox Easter holiday. The agreement, announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and confirmed by the Kremlin, will see a cessation of military activities for two days.

The ceasefire is scheduled to begin at 1600 hours on April 11th and extend through the end of April 12th. This pause in hostilities aims to provide a period of peace and reflection during the religious holiday. President Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's commitment to mutual steps toward peace, noting that Ukraine had previously proposed a ceasefire for Easter. He expressed hope that the pause could be a meaningful step toward lasting peace and urged Russia to sustain the cessation of hostilities beyond the holiday period.

This announcement follows a recent exchange of soldiers' bodies between the two nations. According to reports, Ukraine received the remains of over 1,000 soldiers, while Russia received 41. The exchange, confirmed by officials from both sides, is a regular occurrence in the ongoing conflict. Forensic experts will examine the bodies to ensure proper identification and rule out any errors before the remains are returned to families for burial.

The exchange of remains highlights the ongoing human cost of the conflict, with Ukraine having received over 15,000 bodies of fallen soldiers last year. The Ukrainian army's ability to recover its fallen soldiers has been hampered by the slow but steady advance of Russian troops.

BNN's Perspective:

While the temporary ceasefire for Orthodox Easter offers a glimmer of hope, it remains a limited measure. The exchange of soldiers' bodies underscores the tragic reality of the ongoing conflict. The international community should continue to encourage dialogue and seek a path toward a more comprehensive and lasting peace.

Keywords: Russia, Ukraine, ceasefire, Orthodox Easter, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, military, hostilities, peace, soldiers, bodies, exchange, conflict

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