JUST IN: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas, beginning at noon on Jan. 6.
Andryi Pleshan checks destruction around his shelter in the city of Izium in eastern Ukraine on Jan. 2.Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images
The ceasefire will kick in for 36 hours starting at noon on Jan. 6. Orthodox Christmas is traditionally celebrated by many on Jan. 6 and 7. "Due to the fact that a large number of citizens of the Orthodox faith live in several areas of the conflict zone, we call on the Ukrainian side to observe a ceasefire and allow them to visit Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services," said aPatriarch Kirill has been an avid supporter of the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine — including telling Russian soldiers that dying for the cause would"wash away all sins.
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