Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a two-day truce in the special military operations in Ukraine on Saturday, April 19th, in lieu of Easter on Sunday, April 20th, the Kremlin announced.
During a meeting at the Kremlin, Mr Putin, who’s also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, heard a report by Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov on the situation on the line of contact and declared the Russian side was ceasing all military action from April 19th, 6pm MSK, to April 21st, midnight MSK due to Easter, called the Orthodox holiday of Pascha (Bright Resurrection of Christ) in Russia.
A statement issued by the Kremlin quoted Mr Putin declaring the Easter Truce.
“Guided by humanitarian motives, the Russian side announces an Easter ceasefire from 06:00 pm today to 00:00 am Monday. I hereby order all military operations ceased for this period,” Mr Putin was quoted.
“We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example,” Mr Putin added, emphasising a long-discussed Easter truce plan with Kiev. However, the Russian president has also warned his forces to stay vigilant during the Easter truce period to thwart any possible violations by the Ukrainian side.
“At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible ceasefire violations and provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive acts on their part,” Mr Putin added.
This Easter truce follows a peace roadmap that the US and Russia have agreed on.
Although Russia and the US have held discussions on a ceasefire in Ukraine, no consensus has been reached with Kiev.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that in view of Easter, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 246 prisoners of war (PoWs) with each other.
“On 19 April, as a result of the negotiation process, 246 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime, (sic)” the Russian MoD said in a statement.
In exchange, 246 Ukrainian PoWs were handed over to Kiev, the MoD added.
“In addition, as a gesture of good will, 31 wounded POWs were handed over in exchange for 15 wounded Russian servicemen, who are in need of immediate medical attention, (sic)” the Russian MoD’s statement informed.
According to the MoD, the freed Russian soldiers are on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, “where they are being provided with necessary psychological and medical care.”
“They also have an opportunity to contact their relatives,” the MoD informed, following the Easter truce announcement.
The Russian MoD also informed that all released PoWs will be taken to “the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Defence Ministry.”
Moscow credited the UAE’s mediation behind the release of the 246 Russian PoWs in exchange for Ukrainians.
It’s to be seen whether the Easter truce can lead to long-term peace in the region.
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