Putin orders cease-fire along line of contact in Ukraine

MOSCOW, Jan. 05 (YPA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered a cease-fire along the entire front line between the parties in Ukraine from January 6 until January 7.

According to a statement released by the Kremlin, “the president Putin, taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, instructed the Russian Defense Minister to cease fire along the line of contact between the parties in Ukraine from 12:00 on January 6, 2023, until 24:00 on January 7, 2023.”

The statement added: “Based on the fact that a large number of citizens who convert to Orthodoxy live in the areas of military operations, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to attend mass on Christmas Eve, as well as on Christmas Day.”

Earlier on Thursday, the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill, called for a Christmas truce so that Orthodox Christians could attend services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

YPA