32-hour Russia-Ukraine Easter ceasefire comes into force

Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that a 32-hour ceasefire with Ukraine came into force starting at 4 pm Moscow time (1300GMT).

The ceasefire was announced on Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the military command to prepare for its implementation.

Putin warned that if Ukraine undertakes a provocation, Moscow would respond.

Hours before the ceasefire came into force, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would join the initiative and act "in a mirror manner."

"Ukraine will observe the silence regime and will act strictly in a mirror manner. The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean the absence of our responses," he said on Telegram.

Zelenskyy asserted that the Ukrainian army was ready for any developments on the front.

"Ukraine has repeatedly proposed various ceasefire formats to Russia, and we believe that Easter should be a time of silence and security. A ceasefire for Easter could also be the beginning of real movement toward peace – our side has made a corresponding proposal," he said.

Zelenskyy added that he discussed with the country's military leadership the procedure for Ukrainian units during the ceasefire.

"Information about the mirror nature of our actions and the possible extension of the ceasefire beyond Easter has also been communicated to the Russian side," he said.