Ukraine’s military warns against gathering for nighttime Easter vigils.

After Russia rejected Ukrainian calls for a pause in fighting for the Orthodox Christian Easter period, Ukraine’s military said that curfews would remain in place for traditional vigils held the night before the holy day on Sunday.

“We must understand that the gathering of civilians at a predetermined time of all-night service can be a target for missiles, aircraft and artillery,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement issued Saturday morning.

Earlier in the week, Metropolitan Epifaniy, the head of Ukraine’s Orthodox church, asked clergy to forgo night Easter services in areas of the country affected by fighting, fearing Russian bombardments.

Both Ukrainians and Russians are predominantly Orthodox Christians. But long-simmering tensions between church leaders deepened in recent years. Read more

@nytimes