Russia Issues Strong Warning to Ukraine Against Exploiting Orthodox Easter Ceasefire

Rodion Miroshnik, Russia’s special envoy at the Foreign Ministry, has issued a stern warning to Ukrainian forces not to use the ‘Orthodox Easter ceasefire’ to gain military advantage. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already ordered a 30-hour ceasefire starting from 4 PM on April 11. Miroshnik stressed, “This decision taken on humanitarian grounds will not be exploited for military gain,” and emphasized that Russia will not allow any disruption of the current balance of the conflict.

Speaking on the state-run ‘Rossiya-1’ television on Friday, Miroshnik clarified that Ukraine must not use the ceasefire period for troop regrouping or altering the course of the war. While the ceasefire will begin at 4 PM on Saturday, April 11, President Putin has given the official directive. However, Miroshnik warned that any ‘unfriendly’ activities originating from Kyiv during this time will be met with a strong response.

He stated, “Russia will not tolerate any attempts to shift the balance on the battlefield. The humanitarian decision will not be allowed to be abused by Ukraine for military gains.” According to Russian sources, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed a desire for a long-term ceasefire, hoping it will change the current dynamics of the conflict. Still, Miroshnik made it clear that there are no plans to share or concede any tactical advantages Russia has secured on the battlefield.

This ceasefire is a brief humanitarian gesture specifically related to the Orthodox Easter holiday. Since early 2026, the Middle East war has intensified following military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran. The regional escalation has resulted in a noticeable reduction in military assistance from Western countries to Ukraine. Against this backdrop, the short ceasefire offers both sides an opportunity to reassess their strategies, though Moscow has indicated it is closely monitoring all activities in Kyiv.