Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a stop fireplace in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas, the Kremlin stated on Thursday.

Russian troops should maintain fireplace for 36 hours from 1200 on Jan. 6, the Kremlin stated.

Many Orthodox Christians, together with these residing in Russia and Ukraine, rejoice Christmas on Jan. 6-7.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the top of the Russian Orthodox Church, known as on Thursday for either side of the warfare in Ukraine to watch a Christmas truce, a step dismissed by Kyiv as a cynical entice.

“Considering the enchantment of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, I instruct the Minister of Protection of the Russian Federation to introduce a ceasefire regime alongside the whole line of contact of the events in Ukraine from 12.00 on January 6, 2023 to 24.00 on January 7, 2023,” Putin stated within the order.

“Continuing from the truth that a lot of residents professing Orthodoxy dwell within the areas of hostilities, we name on the Ukrainian aspect to declare a ceasefire and permit them to attend companies on Christmas Eve, in addition to on Christmas Day,” Putin stated.

(Reporting by Reuters; Modifying by Frank Jack Daniel/Man Faulconbridge)