MOSCOW/KYIV - The Orthodox Easter ceasefire with Ukraine announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin began on Saturday afternoon and will continue until Sunday midnight.

On Thursday, Putin announced a ceasefire to mark the Orthodox Easter holiday from 4 pm Moscow time (1300 GMT) on April 11 until the end of April 12. The Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the move.

Russia's Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov were instructed to halt all combat operations along every front during this period.

"Troops must be prepared to thwart any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any of its aggressive actions," the Kremlin said in a previous statement.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said that the truce would enable stepped-up efforts to evacuate the wounded and search for missing people.

ALSO READ: Negotiator: Ukraine approaching potential deal with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev would honor the ceasefire as well.

"Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond in a strictly reciprocal manner," Zelensky wrote on X.

Last year, an Orthodox Easter ceasefire also announced by Putin was in place from 6 pm local time (1500 GMT) on April 19 until the end of April 20. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 4,900 violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side were recorded during that time.

Meanwhile, a total of 182 Ukrainians returned home Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of Orthodox Easter, Ukrainian authorities said.

READ MORE: Fire breaks out at Russia's NORSI oil refinery after drone attack

Those released included 175 service members -- among them 25 officers -- as well as seven civilians, the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said in a statement.

The agency said the freed individuals range in age from 22 to 63, with most having been held in captivity since 2022.