After 11 months, Russian President Vladimir Putin on has called for a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine on the eve of Orthodox Christmas following a request from Russia’s spiritual leader Patriarch Kirill, according to the Kremlin.
The announcement was made in Moscow today, January 5.
“Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the defence minister of the Russian Federation to introduce from 12:00 (0900 GMT) on January 6, 2023 until 24:00 (2100 GMT) on January 7, 2023 a ceasefire along the entire line of contact between the sides in Ukraine.”
The invasion began at dawn of 24 February, with infantry divisions and armoured and air support in Eastern Ukraine, and dozens of missile attacks across both Eastern Ukraine and Western Ukraine. The first fighting took place in Luhansk Oblast near Milove village on the border with Russia at 3:40 a.m. Kyiv time.
