Russia Announces Thirty Hour Cease Fire For Easter

What Happened?

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, ordered a full cease fire for thirty hours during the Easter holiday according to the Kremlin and multiple news agencies. 

Ukrainian President, Zelensky, immediately accused Russia of violating the cease fire with reports of drone and artillery attacks on Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

Russia also accused Ukraine of violating the cease fire, citing nearly the same number of drone and artillery attacks on its forces that Ukraine claimed were carried out by Russia. Despite the mutual claims of violations, overall, there did appear to be a reduction in the fighting by both sides.

Why it Matters

A sizeable portion of Russia’s population belong to, or are affiliated with, the Orthodox Christian Church, and Easter is the largest holiday for the Orthodox faith. The cease fire is likely designed to placate Russia’s Orthodox followers and to give a morale boost to their own soldiers, many of whom consider themselves Orthodox Christians. 

There has been a long-lasting alliance between Russia’s Orthodox Church and the Kremlin under Vladimir Putin’s rule, with each helping the other to gain and hold on to power.

Mr. Putin has frequently characterized his opposition to the west in terms of a culture war against decadence, a stance which has received applause and support from the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church. In turn, Orthodox leaders have encouraged Russian men to enlist in Russia’s Army and to fight in what some Orthodox senior members have called a holy war against western decadence.

In the United States and Europe, Mr. Putin’s temporary cease fire has been seen as a sign that Russia is serious about pursuing a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine. But the reality is the cease fire serves more domestic Russian purposes than it does anything else. Orthodox leaders have been under pressure from the rank-and-file members of the church to stop fighting for the Easter holiday, and that has likely been relayed to Mr. Putin. 

For the war in Ukraine, its unlikely a thirty hour cease fire, even it if it is obeyed by Russian forces, would have much of an impact on the situation there. At best, it would provide both sides with a small period of rest that will be used to launch new combat operations as soon as the time is up. 

How it Affects You

Both Russia and Ukraine have strong Orthodox Chirstian traditions, so it is likely at least some of the troops from each side will honor the temporary cease fire. Whether any diplomatic progress is made during the lull in hostilities remains to be seen, but the respite could provide an opening for negotiations to move forward.