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Putin Announces Temporary Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to mark the Easter holiday, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin on Saturday. The truce, described as a humanitarian gesture, will be in effect from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight on Sunday (2100 GMT), following Orthodox Easter celebrations.
“Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period,” President Putin was quoted as saying during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The announcement was made through the Kremlin’s official press service.
Putin expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate the gesture. “We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example,” he said, while also instructing Russian troops to remain vigilant. “At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions.”
So far, there has been no official response from Kyiv regarding the proposed ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm whether they will observe the temporary truce.
The ceasefire announcement came on the same day Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed a military gain near the Ukraine border. Russian forces reportedly captured the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region — one of the last Ukrainian footholds in that area, according to the ministry. However, the Associated Press noted that it could not independently verify the claim, and Ukrainian authorities have not issued a statement in response.
The announcement of the truce arrives amid continued hostilities in eastern and southern Ukraine, with both sides engaged in intense fighting despite periodic calls for peace. Previous attempts at temporary ceasefires, including those tied to religious holidays, have often failed to hold due to mutual accusations of violations.
The Kremlin’s move appears to be an attempt to frame Russia’s actions as being guided by humanitarian motives, possibly aimed at improving its international image during a deeply entrenched conflict. Nonetheless, observers remain skeptical about the effectiveness or sincerity of such temporary measures without a broader agreement in place.
The Orthodox Easter, a significant religious holiday in both Russia and Ukraine, is often seen as an opportunity for brief moments of reflection and reprieve from conflict. Whether this latest ceasefire will bring any tangible pause to the violence remains uncertain.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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