Russia's Putin orders 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine

keven cities around Eastern Ukraine faced another night of air raid sirens and Russian drone attacks as Russia extends its constant bombardment of the country. That began on New Year's Eve. Sarah large nuke is in London tracking this for us this morning. So, Sarah, what's the latest out of Ukraine today? As you said, Hillary, it's been, it's been more or less relentless for the last three days since midday on New Year's Eve and into last night. The attacks, primarily done by drones have impacted cities across the country from person to Hark Eve to Zaporizhia. But last night it was the capital that faced the brunt of the damage from these drone attacks. The Kiev Military administration saying that they downed 22 drones overnight. However, when they take those, when they shoot those drones out of the sky, the falling debris still causes *** significant amount of damage. According to keeps Mayor vitali Klitschko. Uh, these uh, the falling debris damaged energy infrastructure and did cause heat outages as well as electricity outages in the capital. And this latest wave of strikes also hit the eastern region and one was sent to *** hospital in the capital and that the Ukrainian army is now striking back against some Russian targets. So what can you tell us about that? Yes, So we're hearing today that the Ukrainian military hit *** Russian military barracks in Eastern Ukraine and the Moscow installed officials in the occupied Donetsk region actually confirmed that this attack happened and they said that it was 25 high mars rockets that hit the military barracks and Ukraine's military actually posted video last night on twitter of those high mars rockets being fired overnight at The casualty count. According to the Russian officials is said to be 15. That is being reported in Russian media. However, the Ukrainian military has said that the casualty count is likely in the hundreds. They say as high as 400 if that were to be true and neither of those numbers are verified this would actually be the deadliest attack since the since the war began began from Ukrainian by the Ukrainian military. Russia is also accusing Ukraine however, today of attacking energy infrastructure within Russia proper and this is not the first time Russia has accused Ukrainian forces of attacking energy infrastructure inside of Russia's borders. However, Ukraine has never accepted responsibility to date of attacking sites within Russia. Sarah Larne, you quit those updates for us this morning. Thank you, Sarah

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered Moscow's armed forces to hold a 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend for the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday, the Kremlin said.The order follows a proposal by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, earlier in the day, which was dismissed by an official in the Ukrainian presidential office as propaganda."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 cease-fire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ," according to Putin's order, addressed to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and published on the Kremlin's website.Kirill suggested a truce from noon Friday through midnight Saturday, local time. The Russian Orthodox Church, which uses the ancient Julian calendar, celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7 — later than the Gregorian calendar — although some Christians in Ukraine also mark the holiday on that date.Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed Kirill's call as "a cynical trap and an element of propaganda." President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed a Russian troop withdrawal earlier, before Dec. 25, but Russia rejected it.Kirill has previously justified the war as part of Russia's "metaphysical struggle" to prevent a liberal ideological encroachment from the West.Putin spoke by phone with Turkey's president Thursday and the Kremlin said Putin "reaffirmed Russia's openness to a serious dialogue" with Ukrainian authorities.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Putin to implement a "unilateral cease-fire," according to a statement from the Turkish president's office.Erdogan also told Zelenskyy later by telephone that Turkey was ready to mediate a "lasting peace." Erdogan has made such an offer frequently. It has already helped broker a deal allowing Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain, and it has facilitated a prisoner swap.Russia's professed readiness came with the usual preconditions: that "Kyiv authorities fulfill the well-known and repeatedly stated demands and recognize new territorial realities," the Kremlin said, referring to Moscow's insistence that Ukraine recognize Crimea as part of Russia and acknowledge other illegal territorial gains.Previous attempts at peace talks have fallen at that hurdle, as Ukraine demands that Russia withdraws from occupied areas at the very least.Elsewhere, the head of NATO said he detected no change in Moscow's stance on Ukraine, insisting that the Kremlin "wants a Europe where they can control a neighboring country.""We have no indications that President Putin has changed his plans, his goals for Ukraine," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Oslo.Ukraine's Western allies have renewed a vow to keep supporting Kyiv for as long as it takes to defeat Russia.In the latest pledge of military help, the French Defense Ministry said it plans talks soon with its Ukrainian counterpart on delivering armored combat vehicles. France's presidency says it will be the first time this type of Western-made wheeled tank destroyer is sent to Ukraine's military.Also, U.S. President Joe Biden said Bradley Fighting Vehicles, a medium armored combat vehicle that can serve as a troop carrier, could be sent to Ukraine.The fighting in Ukraine has increasingly become a war of attrition in recent weeks, as winter sets in.Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said Thursday at least five civilians were killed and eight wounded across the country by Russian shelling in the previous 24 hours.The ongoing intense battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut has left 60% of the city in ruins, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Thursday. Ukrainian defenders were holding the Russians back, but the Kremlin's forces have pummeled the city with months of relentless shelling.Taking the city in the Donbas region, an expansive industrial area bordering Russia, would not only give Putin a major battlefield gain after months of setbacks, but it also would rupture Ukraine's supply lines and open the way for Moscow's forces to press on toward key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk.

KYIV, Ukraine —

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered Moscow's armed forces to hold a 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend for the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday, the Kremlin said.

The order follows a proposal by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, earlier in the day, which was dismissed by an official in the Ukrainian presidential office as propaganda.

"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 cease-fire and give them the opportunity to attend services on Christmas Eve, as well as on the Day of the Nativity of Christ," according to Putin's order, addressed to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and published on the Kremlin's website.

Kirill suggested a truce from noon Friday through midnight Saturday, local time. The Russian Orthodox Church, which uses the ancient Julian calendar, celebrates Christmas on Jan. 7 — later than the Gregorian calendar — although some Christians in Ukraine also mark the holiday on that date.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak dismissed Kirill's call as "a cynical trap and an element of propaganda." President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed a Russian troop withdrawal earlier, before Dec. 25, but Russia rejected it.

Kirill has previously justified the war as part of Russia's "metaphysical struggle" to prevent a liberal ideological encroachment from the West.

Putin spoke by phone with Turkey's president Thursday and the Kremlin said Putin "reaffirmed Russia's openness to a serious dialogue" with Ukrainian authorities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Putin to implement a "unilateral cease-fire," according to a statement from the Turkish president's office.

Erdogan also told Zelenskyy later by telephone that Turkey was ready to mediate a "lasting peace." Erdogan has made such an offer frequently. It has already helped broker a deal allowing Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain, and it has facilitated a prisoner swap.

Russia's professed readiness came with the usual preconditions: that "Kyiv authorities fulfill the well-known and repeatedly stated demands and recognize new territorial realities," the Kremlin said, referring to Moscow's insistence that Ukraine recognize Crimea as part of Russia and acknowledge other illegal territorial gains.

Previous attempts at peace talks have fallen at that hurdle, as Ukraine demands that Russia withdraws from occupied areas at the very least.

Elsewhere, the head of NATO said he detected no change in Moscow's stance on Ukraine, insisting that the Kremlin "wants a Europe where they can control a neighboring country."

"We have no indications that President Putin has changed his plans, his goals for Ukraine," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in Oslo.

Ukraine's Western allies have renewed a vow to keep supporting Kyiv for as long as it takes to defeat Russia.

In the latest pledge of military help, the French Defense Ministry said it plans talks soon with its Ukrainian counterpart on delivering armored combat vehicles. France's presidency says it will be the first time this type of Western-made wheeled tank destroyer is sent to Ukraine's military.

Also, U.S. President Joe Biden said Bradley Fighting Vehicles, a medium armored combat vehicle that can serve as a troop carrier, could be sent to Ukraine.

The fighting in Ukraine has increasingly become a war of attrition in recent weeks, as winter sets in.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said Thursday at least five civilians were killed and eight wounded across the country by Russian shelling in the previous 24 hours.

The ongoing intense battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut has left 60% of the city in ruins, Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Thursday. Ukrainian defenders were holding the Russians back, but the Kremlin's forces have pummeled the city with months of relentless shelling.

Taking the city in the Donbas region, an expansive industrial area bordering Russia, would not only give Putin a major battlefield gain after months of setbacks, but it also would rupture Ukraine's supply lines and open the way for Moscow's forces to press on toward key Ukrainian strongholds in Donetsk.

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