Ukrainian officials have previously warned that Russian attacks may intensify during certain dates, holidays or events. The country’s law enforcement official Oleksijus Bilošickis said that the police will use special monitoring centers that will monitor any signs of attacks, according to CNN.
“We must remember that the enemy is insidious and can take any action even on this (Easter) night,” he said.
Residents of the capital Kyiv will be able to participate in late-night services despite the curfew, but they must arrive at the church before the curfew comes into force, Serhijus Popko, head of the military administration of the city of Kyiv, said in a Telegram message on Thursday.
Popko said churchgoers and clergy should find out where the nearest shelter is and be prepared to run to safety if the air-raid siren goes off.
Curfew in Kyiv, as in most of the country, is from midnight to 5 am. morning local time.
ZUMAPRESS / Scanpix photo/Ukrainians welcome Easter
Residents of the Kyiv region will be able to attend services only when the curfew is not imposed, and only a limited number of people will be allowed into the territory of churches and cemeteries for security reasons, the military administration of the Kyiv region announced on Monday.
She added that many churches will broadcast services online.
Officials in northeastern Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, will close several cemeteries.
Authorities have warned that one of the cemeteries, the Slobojanski Memorial Complex, has not been completely cleared of explosive mines.
Other cemeteries in the city will be closed over Easter “to avoid provocations by the enemy and to protect residents from unpredictable rocket attacks,” the city council said.
In the southern city of Kherson, residents will not be able to visit cemeteries or attend services during the curfew, the city council said on Tuesday.
She said the ban on visiting cemeteries is in place due to the risk of landmines.
“The enemy conducts daily hostile attacks against the civilian population of Kherson community. Unfortunately, the possibility of shooting during the holidays cannot be ruled out,” said the city council.