Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, has officially instructed the Ukrainian Defense Forces to strictly observe a comprehensive ceasefire on land, at sea, and in the air during the upcoming Easter holidays. This directive was officially announced by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Saturday, April 11.
The Ukrainian military command emphasized that while Ukraine is fully committed to ensuring a regime of silence to honor the religious holiday, its troops will operate under the strict principle of a “mirror response.” Given the extensive history of Russian forces cynically violating similar truces and international agreements in the past, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have been ordered to maintain a state of high combat readiness. Troops are fully authorized and prepared to react immediately to any enemy provocations, sabotage attempts, or sudden offensive actions initiated by the aggressor.
“In the event that our units detect the enemy advancing toward the front line, conducting engineering and fortification work, or regrouping their forces and military equipment—or if there are any signs indicating genuine preparation for assault operations—Ukrainian soldiers have the absolute right to open fire to kill,” the General Staff’s official statement clarified. The command further stressed that these proactive measures are completely necessary to prevent the enemy from exploiting the temporary ceasefire for aggressive tactical advantages.
These rules of engagement are not limited to ground operations but will be equally enforced in the naval and aerial domains. The General Staff explicitly warned that any launches of cruise or ballistic missiles, as well as the deployment of attack drones by the Russian army against Ukrainian territory, will be met with an immediate and symmetrical retaliatory strike.
The broader context of this military directive stems from a recent statement published in Moscow on April 9, wherein Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a brief “Easter truce.” According to the Russian declaration, this pause in hostilities was intended to last for slightly more than 24 hours, starting from 16:00 on April 11 until the end of the day on April 12. In response to this temporary measure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a more lasting solution, suggesting that the ceasefire be extended beyond the Easter weekend to facilitate a meaningful de-escalation of the conflict.
However, the Kremlin was quick to reject the diplomatic overture. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, openly admitted the day before that Russia has no intention of seeking a genuine, long-term truce with Ukraine. This stark admission further underscores the necessity for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to remain vigilant and ready to defend the nation’s sovereignty against ongoing Russian aggression.