Jack Burgess
Live page editor

There was a surprise Easter announcement from the Russian presidentyesterday.

Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to “stop all military activity”for 30 hours, from 16:00 BST (18:00 local time) on Saturday until 22:00 BST (midnightin Moscow) on Sunday.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is willing to adhere to the truce but accused Russia of breaking it.

“The Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine,” he said.

The Kremlin’s move came shortly after US President Donald Trump said the US will “take a pass” on brokering further Russia-Ukraine talks if either make it “very difficult” to reach a peace deal.

I’m here with my colleagues Rorey Bosotti, Neha Gohil, Cachella Smith and Zahra Fatima in our London newsroom. We’ll bring you the latest breaking news and analysis as we get it.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Easter celebrations across Ukraine were disrupted earlier today when Russia’s President Vladimir Putin suddenly announced a ceasefire until 22:00 BST tomorrow (midnight in Moscow).

Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky responded by saying he would “mirror” Russia’s move, but then challenged Putin to agree to the 30-day full and unconditional ceasefire proposed last month to “give peace a chance”.

Putin said the truce was guided by “humanitarian considerations”, but our Russia editor says the Russian leader may be using the truce to show America that Russia is open to ending the war.

After the truce began, both Russian and Ukrainian officials say things are quieter in some regions. But fighting is still being reported tonight along parts of the frontline.

We’re still waiting to see how well the ceasefire holds overnight. For more updates, check our main news article as this live coverage wraps up.

Thank you for following along.

As we’ve been reporting, today’s truce is linked to Easter.

Right now, both Russia and Ukraine are holding midnight Easter services.

It’s unusual for this to happen, as this year Easter falls on the same day for both Orthodox and Western churches.

This is due to a rare alignment of the Julian and Gregorian calendars, which are used by each church.

Ukraine had traditionally followed the Julian calendar, like Russia. But in a move away from Russia, Volodymyr Zelensky changed the law in July 2023. The Ukrainian president said this change allowed Ukrainians to “abandon the Russian heritage”.

We’ve just had another update from Volodymyr Zelensky, who says that “fighting continues” in the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod.

Citing a report from his commander-in-chief, Zelensky suggests that “Easter statements by Putin did not extend to this territory”.

“Russian artillery can still be heard in certain directions of the front, regardless of the Russian leader’s promise of silence,” he adds, noting that the situation “has become quieter” in some areas.

Zelensky repeats that a proposal for a 30-day full and unconditional ceasefire “remains on the table” and says that Ukraine’s actions are “symmetrical” to Russia’s.

• For context, Ukrainian troops crossed the border into Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions, and have held parts of the territory, hoping to use them as bargaining chips in possible peace talks. But Putin has said Russia is back in control in many parts of the territory

Ukraine’s Kherson region head Oleksandr Prokudin says the area is under attack following the start Putin’s proposed Easter truce.

Prokudin says that at around 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT), there were at least three strikes in the region, and a high-rise building in Kherson’s Dniprovskyi district caught fire.

Meanwhile, the head of Zaporizhia region says that at about 20:10 local time, a man was injured in a drone attack in a village after his car was struck.

Ukraine has been accused of “violating” the truce declared by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

In a Telegram post, the Russian-installed leader of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, suggests that Ukraine’s armed forces “continue to strike peaceful cities” in Kherson.

Saldo suggests that “in a number of areas there is silence, no shelling”, which he claims is evidence that some in the Ukrainian military “heard the call for peace and retained their humanity”.

But Saldo says that drone, mortar and UAV drops have been recorded in Aleshki, Hola Prystan and Kashkova.

The BBC has not independently verified these reports.

As we reported earlier, Putin’s Easter truce has not prevented air-raid sirens from sounding around the Ukrainian capital tonight.

No damage or injuries have been reported, but the video below shows the warnings of missile attacks playing out in Kyiv.

Hanna Chornous
BBC News, Kyiv

Ukrainian commentators are sceptical about Russia’s intentions.

“I’d like to remind you that it is the same [person] who declared an Easter truce and swore Russia would never attack Ukraine,” former MP Boryslav Bereza said on Facebook.

Journalist Yuriy Butusov points out that there was no mention of any monitoring and control of the ceasefire in Putin’s statement. “Such ‘truces’, as the experience of the war in Donbas taught, always turn into a firefight. And Putin will, as always, blame Ukraine for the violation,” he says.

“It is physically impossible to stop the fighting on such a long frontline without systematic and coordinated work. Thousands of soldiers will not even find out about any ‘statement’ or ‘order’,” notes Andriy Tkachuk, serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.Activist Dmytro Bykov says: “There is no trust that [Putin] will voluntarily stop the war. The war will continue, plan your life accordingly.”

It’s just after 22:30 local time (19:30 GMT) in Kyiv, where air-raid sirens have reportedly sounded in this evening, AFP news agency reports.

This is despite the start of Vladimir Putin’s Easter truce, which the Russian president suggested would see fighting halt until 21:00 GMT (00:00 Moscow time) tomorrow.

AFP says its journalists in the Ukrainian capital received an air-raid alert message and were told to proceed to shelters by sirens shortly before 22:00 local time due to a “missile threat” in the region.

Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

In the last few moments, Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Vladimir Putin to show he is serious about peace in Ukraine by agreeing to a longer-term ceasefire.

This followed the Russian president’s somewhat out of the blue 30-hour Easter truce, which he said was guided by “humanitarian considerations” – here’s how it all unfolded:

• Zelensky said fighting continues on several fronts and pushed Putin to “give peace a chance” by extending his surprise truce beyond the 20 April deadline
• Putin earlier told his chief of military staff that a ceasefire would be in effect from this afternoon until 21:00 GMT tomorrow (00:00 Moscow time) – he said this was “guided by humanitarian considerations”
• Soon after, one senior Ukrainian military official told the BBC that his unit and others received orders to stop firing at Russian positions minutes after the truce was due to start.
• But, Ukrainian civilians weren’t convinced: one Kyiv resident said she expects missiles to fall tonight, while an MP in the capital called the reported truce “a joke”
• In the meantime, an exchange of over 200 prisoners of war took place, one of the largest since Russia’s full-scale invasion began
• Our staff based in the two countries have had their say; Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse says fighting will almost certainly continue, while Russia editor Steve Rosenberg suggests Putin is using this truce to convince America Russia wants to end the war
• America’s leader Donald Trump, meanwhile, has yet to respond – after earlier this week suggesting the US may soon “take a pass” on brokering peace talks

Russia’s military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov says that Russian troops have retaken over 99% of territory seized by Ukraine in the Kursk region.

A state of emergency was declared as Ukranian forces entered the region last summer.

In a meeting earlier with Putin, Gerasimov said the main part of the territory “is now liberated,” saying that equals 1,260 square km (486 square miles), which he says is “99.5%” of the area.

Ukrainian soldiers have been retreating from the Kursk region along Russia’s border, with scenes on the front line being described as “like a horror movie”.

We can now bring you more now on Zelenksy’s comments in response to Vladimir Putin’s Easter truce.

Here’s what the Ukranian president has to say:

‘Unconditional ceasefire proposals unanswered by Russia for 39 days’

“The…proposal for a full and unconditional 30 days ceasefire has gone unanswered by Russia for 39 days. The United States made this proposal, Ukraine responded positively, but Russia ignored it.

“If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia’s actions. Silence in response to silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks.”

‘Give peace a chance beyond Easter’

“If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20. That is what will reveal Russia’s true intentions — because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance.”

‘Russian assault operations continue’

“As of now, according to the Commander-in-Chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided. Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow. We know all too well how Moscow manipulates, and we are prepared for anything. Ukraine’s Defense Forces will act rationally — responding in kind. Every Russian strike will be met with an appropriate response.”

We’ve just got a response from the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia’s actions,” he says.

But he adds that “Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided. Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow”.

We’ll soon bring you more on this.

About 10 minutes ago, the Ukrainian air force issued a warning about the “threat of ballistic weapons in areas where air alert has been declared”.

This is the first air alert following the start of the Easter truce proposed by Putin, which was expected to begin about three hours ago.

Ukrainians in Kharkiv are gathering to celebrate Easter. The front-line city has seen significant fighting throughout the war.

Photos show people gathering for celebrations, lighting candles and attending traditional blessings.

In April 2022, around two months after Russia launched their full-scale invasion on Ukraine, UN Secretary-General António Guterres made an appeal for an Easter truce for Ukraine.

“This year, Holy Week is being observed under the cloud of a war that represents the total negation of the Easter message,” he said in a speech at the time.

“The four-day Easter period should be a moment to unite around saving lives and furthering dialogue to end the suffering in Ukraine.”

Guterres had proposed a truce covering the period between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday, but ultimately nothing transpired.

Anastasiia Levchenko
BBC News

A senior Ukrainian military officer has told the BBC that his unit and others received orders to stop firing at Russian positions minutes after an Easter ceasefire announced by Vladimir Putin was due to start.

According to this officer, units were told to record photo and video evidence of violations of the truce, and to return fire if needed.

The officer told the BBC that the announcement had “caught everyone by surprise” and that while most wanted a ceasefire, there was still confusion at the frontline about what it would entail.

Thirty hours of ceasefire looks unrealistic to achievepublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 19 April

Zhanna Bezpiatchuk
BBC Ukrainian Service reporter

I’ve read the news about Putin’s declaration of theEaster ceasefire just right at the moment that Kyiv’s air defence wastrying to shoot down Russia’s drone over a residentialarea.

Half an hour before what Russia’s leader called a “30-hour ceasefire”, explosions were heard by people carrying Easter cakes and eggsin the Ukrainian capital.

They trust this loud, chilling sound more thanany declarations or promises from Putin, whose army invaded Ukraine and continuesto barrage its territories on his order.

It’s still not clear if Ukraine’s President Zelenskyaccepts this ceasefire.

It’s worth remembering that over a month ago Ukraine agreedto declare 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

Obviously, the offer was turned down by Russia.Instead over a month later Putin made a proposal which is unclear bothtechnically and politically.

It’s not clear whether it’s unconditional and comprehensiveor not. It’s not clear if the Ukrainian side was informed inadvance.

But within the first hour of that 30-hour period the StateCenter for Countering Disinformation informed that Russian forces continue tofire in all main directions.

Thirty hours of the ceasefire looks unrealistic to achieve anyreal progress. But it might be enough to persuade the US to stay on board of peacetalks.

When my mother asked me what Putin’s ceasefire means, Ihad to give an honest answer. For now, it is just Putin’s declaration oncamera.

After Ukrainian officials appeared to dismiss Vladimir Putin’s Easter truce, citizens in Kyiv are also refusing to take the Russian president at his word.

Reacting to the news today, Kyiv resident Tetiana Solovei says Putin is incapable of reaching “any sort of a deal”.

“He only knows how to get things done using force,” she suggests. “Tonight, in Ukraine and especially in Kyiv, we expect missiles. There will be no ceasefire.”

Lawyer Andrii Olefirenko, 34, agrees.

“They hoax and drag time to become stronger to start military actions again with new strength,” he says of Putin’s negotiating tactics.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation in Ukraine, claims Russia has not ceased hostilities despite its temporary truce announcement.

In a Telegram post Kovalenko says the Russians are still firing artillery.

“There is NO truce: in all directions, the Russian Federation continues to fire, as before,” he says.

The BBC has not independently verified Kovalenko’s claim.