Ukraine to observe Easter ceasefire but will respond to any Russian attacks – General Staff
Ukrainian soldiers fire from a self-propelled howitzer at Russian positions near Pokrovsk (illustrative photo) (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)
Ukraine’s Defense Forces will observe a ceasefire on land, at sea and in the air during Easter but will open fire if Russian troops prepare assaults or other aggressive actions, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Apr. 11.
They emphasized that Ukrainian forces will observe the ceasefire on a reciprocal basis. Accordingly, defenders must be ready to respond immediately to any provocations or offensive actions by the occupying forces.
“In the event of enemy units advancing to the front line, conducting engineering work or regrouping forces and assets, or showing signs of real preparation for assault operations and other actions that may indicate the enemy is using the ceasefire for aggressive purposes, Ukrainian troops have the full right to open fire to neutralize the threat. The same rules will apply at sea and in the air,” the statement said.
The General Staff added that Ukraine’s Defense Forces will also respond in kind to any Russian missile launches or strike UAV attacks on Ukrainian territory.
On April 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi had defined the course of action for Ukrainian units under a ceasefire by the Russian army.
The Ukrainian president also proposed extending the ceasefire beyond Easter.
“Information about the reciprocal nature of our actions and the possible extension of the ceasefire after Easter has also been conveyed to the Russian side,” Zelenskyy said.
On April 9, Vladimir Putin announced an “Easter ceasefire” in Ukraine from 4 p.m. on April 11 until the end of April 12.
Zelenskyy said in response that Ukraine is ready for reciprocal steps during the ceasefire and that Russia “has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter.”
On April 10, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would not extend the so-called Easter ceasefire.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
