Russia starts 36-hour unilateral cease-fire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas

January 6, 2023

By Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Russia on Friday started a 36-hour unilateral cease-fire in Ukraine on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu to introduce a cease-fire regime along the entire line of contact with Ukraine from 12 noon local time (0900GMT) on Friday till midnight (2100GMT) on Saturday.

"Based on the fact that a large number of people professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a cease-fire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ," Putin said.

Earlier on Thursday, Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, called for a truce in Ukraine for the Christmas Day, which is celebrated by most Orthodox Christians on Jan. 7, this year falling on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia in an address late on Thursday of using the cease-fire as a cover to halt Kyiv's military advances.