Putin orders ceasefire across Ukraine

WORLD, Jan. 07 (YPA) – A cessation of hostilities in Ukraine ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the eve of Orthodox Christmas took effect on Friday morning.

Russia will be observing the truce for 36 hours, from 12:00 on January 6 until midnight on January 7.

On Thursday, Putin has ordered the Russian military to impose a cessation in hostilities in Ukraine, hours after Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, had called on both sides of the conflict to cease hostilities in the run-up to, and during, the Orthodox Christmas holiday.

“Judging by the fact that a lot of citizens who practice the Orthodox religion live in the embattled area, we call upon the Ukrainian side to proclaim a cessation of hostilities and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day,” according to Kremlin statement .

E.M