Putin’s “Christmas Silence” is already being broken – an analysis

Ukrainian soldiers at the front

The Ukrainians attack positions of the Russian occupiers with howitzers.

(Photo: Reuters)

Vienna Russia’s unilateral ceasefire, widely heralded as a “humanity gesture” to avoid deaths on Orthodox Christmas, was broken several times on Friday afternoon. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said the army had to react to Ukrainian fire at various points on the front. Military sources in Kyiv, for their part, reported enemy artillery fire, including on a hospital in the town of Kurakhovo.

It is partly unclear whether the reported attacks took place shortly before or during the ceasefire that was ordered for 12 p.m. Moscow time. In addition, it is not yet possible to say whether there has been a quantitative reduction in combat operations. However, there is little sign of a general will to de-escalate.

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday put forward the proposal to silence the guns for 36 hours to celebrate Christmas on January 6 and 7, at the suggestion of Patriarch Kirill. The Orthodox Church celebrates 13 days later than some Western countries.

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