Vladimir Putin has called for a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to allow for Orthodox Christians to be able to celebrate Christmas.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the conflict has been raging on ever since, with both sides reporting casualties.
As reported by BBC News, the biggest invasion of a European country since the Second World War was described as a "special military operation" by Russian President Vladimir Putin after he sent up to 200,000 soldiers into the country last winter.
Many civilians have been displaced by the conflict, with a reported 7.9 million Ukrainians fleeing to other European countries. More than 6,900 civilians have lost their lives, as confirmed by The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Now, the Russian president has offered Ukraine a 36-hour ceasefire so that the Orthodox Christians who reside in both countries can celebrate Christmas, which is celebrated from January 6 to January 7.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, called for both countries to observe a truce, something that Putin had decided to honor, per CNBC.
Putin put in the following order, via Reuters: "Taking into account the appeal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire line of contact of the parties in Ukraine from 12.00 on January 6, 2023 to 24.00 on January 7, 2023.
"Proceeding from the fact that a large number of citizens professing Orthodoxy live in the areas of hostilities, we call on the Ukrainian side to declare a ceasefire and allow them to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on Christmas Day."
The report goes on to state that although Ukraine had dismissed earlier intentions of a Christmas truce, they are yet to officially respond to Putin's ceasefire request.
When the Russian Orthodox Church made the initial request, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak said: "The statement of the Russian Orthodox Church about the 'Christmas Truce' is a cynical trap and an element of propaganda."
He then went on to describe the church as a "war propagandist" that it had incited "mass murder" in Ukraine.
Additionally, if you would like to know how you can support the Ukrainian people at this time, click HERE to find a list of organizations and groups dedicated to helping those affected by this crisis.
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