Meria
Elder Lister
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his invading forces to implement a unilateral cease-fire for Orthodox Christmas beginning at noon Friday “along the entire line of contact between the parties in Ukraine” and continuing through Saturday, according to a Kremlin statement. Putin said he was acting on an appeal from the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, and called on Ukraine to join the temporary truce. Russia carried out airstrikes on Ukraine on New Year’s Eve. “Based on the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the combat areas, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ,” the statement said.
