Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire on the Ukrainian border for the Christmas celebration. Putin said he had instructed the Ministry of Defense to declare a cease-fire at Patriarch Kirill’s request. A ceasefire should be implemented along the entire border. The Ukrainian army should also prepare for a ceasefire as many Orthodox sects live in the border areas. Putin also asked that believers should be given an opportunity to participate in rituals on Christmas Day.
The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas from January 6 to 7. The ceasefire was announced for 36 hours from Friday noon to Saturday midnight local time. But the Ukrainian government has not responded to the ceasefire. Yesterday, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church tried to contact the authorities of Ukraine but was unsuccessful. Ukraine suspects that the ceasefire was a Russian ruse. Orthodox sects in Russia and Ukraine celebrate Christmas on January 6–7.
At the same time, Ukraine’s retaliatory strike is taking a huge toll on Russian intelligence. Russia has revealed that 89 of its soldiers were killed in a missile attack by Ukrainian forces on New Year’s Eve due to illegal mobile phone use. Russian forces suffered the heaviest casualties since the start of the war in Ukraine. 4 of the 6 missiles fired by Ukraine hit the weapons depot near the building where the soldiers lived. The impact of the explosion was increased by the fact that the weapons caught fire.
English Summary: Putin orders cease fire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas