KHARKIV, April 12 -- An uneasy truce between Russia and Ukraine to mark the Orthodox Easter entered into force yesterday, with Kyiv warning it would respond "immediately" if Russia violated it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the ceasefire on Thursday, more than a week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first made the proposal.

Both sides have agreed to observe it.

The ceasefire was due to last for 32 hours, from 4pm (1300 GMT/9pm Malaysian time) yesterday until the end of the day today, according to the Kremlin.

"Ukraine will adhere to the ceasefire and respond strictly in kind. The absence of Russian strikes in the air, on land, and at sea will mean no response from our side," Zelensky said in a post on X.

The Uk...