Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian Defense Minister to stop attacking Ukraine only during Orthodox Christmas.
The Russian military will observe a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine from noon on January 6 to midnight on January 7.
Many Orthodox Christians, including those living in Russia and Ukraine, celebrate Christmas on January 6 to 7.
An official statement from the Kremlin published on the Telegram application said: “Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation from 12:00 on January 6, 2023 until 24:00 on January 7, 2023, a ceasefire across the entire front line in Ukraine.”
“Based on the fact that a large number of Orthodox citizens live in the war zones, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to participate in services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of Nativity of Christ”, the announcement states.
Otherwise, Russia begins its unjustified invasion of the Ukrainian state on February 24, causing casualties and material damage.