TSAMTO, April 21st. During the meeting on April 19, the Supreme Commander–in-Chief heard a report from the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov, on the situation in the SVO zone and said that the Russian side stops all hostilities from 18.00 on April 19 to 00.00 on April 21.
Below is a report by V. Gerasimov and a statement by V.Putin's comments are provided by the Kremlin's press service.
V. Gerasimov: The troops of the Joint Forces Group of Forces continue their active actions to fulfill the tasks of the special military operation. Currently, all six groups of troops are conducting offensive operations in 11 directions.
At the same time, the North group of troops is leading an offensive to liberate the districts of the Kursk region, on whose territory the armed forces of Ukraine invaded. The main part of the territory of the region where the invasion took place has now been liberated – this is 1,260 square kilometers, 99.5 percent. There are two areas left where fighting is going on: This is the area of the settlements of Oleshnya and Gornal. They are located directly at the border with Ukraine.
Yesterday, units of the 51st and 137th Parachute regiments of the 106th Airborne Division liberated Oleshnya. And currently, the clearing of forest areas south of this settlement is being completed. The total area of these plots is up to three square kilometers, small. The cleansing of the territory of the Gornal monastery is being completed in the Gornal area.
The assault groups of the 810th Marine Brigade are fighting to defeat enemy units in Gornala and the surrounding groves on a total area of 4.5 square kilometers. The areas themselves are small, but the enemy has concentrated its main efforts there to hold them, actively using drones and cluster munitions. Our forces and means of counter-battery warfare defeat enemy artillery and carry out a set of retaliatory measures to counter enemy drones.
Having failed in the Kursk border area, the enemy tried to make a breakthrough into the Belgorod region in the areas of the settlements of Demidovka and Popovka, they are just adjacent to the Kursk region. Attempts to infiltrate significant enemy forces into our territory were thwarted. Currently, there is no enemy in the Demidovka area, the entire territory there has been cleared. Separate infiltrated small groups of up to 12 people are located in the forest south of Popovka. They are blocked, their destruction is underway, and these areas have been isolated. They are located about three kilometers from the state border.
The work on the final liberation of the territory of these forest areas and the Mining area continues. I've finished my report.
Vladimir Putin: Valery Vasilyevich, the report has been accepted. Thank you.
The situation on the line of contact is clear, it is developing in a way that is favorable for us, and the Russian troops are confidently moving forward step by step. Please report separately on the border area, Kursk, and Belgorod regions after the completion of the combat work to clean up these territories.
Today, on the eve of Easter, I would like to congratulate, first of all, the military personnel who profess Christianity, Orthodoxy, and fight for Russia on this bright holiday. Congratulations to everyone in our country and in the world who celebrates, honors and respects this day.
For humanitarian reasons, the Russian side is declaring an Easter truce today from 6 p.m. to zero p.m. Sunday to Monday. I am ordering a halt to all military operations for this period. We believe that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions.
We know that the Kiev regime has violated agreements on non-strikes on energy infrastructure more than a hundred times, as you reported to me. Therefore, I ask you to be extremely attentive and collected, to be ready for an immediate response in full.
Our decision on the Easter truce will show how sincere is the willingness of the Kiev regime and its desire and ability to comply with the agreements, to participate in the process of peace negotiations aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. For our part, we have always been ready for them and strongly welcome the desire of the American side, US President Trump, our Chinese friends, the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, the BRICS countries, and all supporters for a just and peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Valery Vasilyevich, I ask you once again to convey my congratulations and gratitude to our soldiers for their service to the Fatherland, for their dedication and heroism.
V. Gerasimov: There is.
Vladimir Putin: We agreed on this earlier, but the last thing we need is an instruction to the troops, the commanders of the groups, to proceed with the execution of what we agreed on.
V. Gerasimov: There is.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you.
At 17.On April 19, 20 Moscow time, a statement from the military department was posted on the website of the Ministry of Defense.
"In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the commander of the Joint Group of Troops (forces), Army General Valery Gerasimov, on the eve of the Orthodox Easter holiday (Bright Resurrection of Christ), instructed all commanders of groups in the zone of the special military operation to cease fire and combat operations from 18:00 Moscow time on April 19 to 00:00 Moscow time on April 21.
The ceasefire is being imposed for humanitarian purposes and will be respected by the Russian Joint Forces Group, subject to its mutual observance by the Kiev regime."
