Orthodox Easter ceasefire announced by Putin takes effect, to last through Sunday

MOSCOW - The Orthodox Easter ceasefire with Ukraine announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin began on Saturday afternoon and will continue until Sunday midnight.

On Thursday, Putin announced a ceasefire to mark the Orthodox Easter holiday from 16:00 Moscow time (1300 GMT) on April 11 until the end of April 12. The Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the move.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev would honor the ceasefire as well.