Despite the Orthodox Christmas truce announced unilaterally by Russia and upheld by Russian forces, Ukrainian soldiers continued shelling in Donbass, according to the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday.

"Despite Russian troops observing the ceasefire from 12:00 Moscow time on January 6 [09:00 GMT], the Kiev regime continued its artillery shelling of populated areas and Russian troop positions," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, retaliatory fire suppressed Ukraine's artillery.

Putin instructs unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine on Orthodox Christmas  

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order on Thursday to Russian forces in Ukraine to halt all military operations along the line of combat for 36 hours over Orthodox Christmas.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was instructed to implement the ceasefire between January 6 and 7.

"Taking into account an appeal by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, I instruct the Russian defense minister to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire line of combat contact of the parties in Ukraine from 12:00 on January 6 [09:00 GMT] to 24:00 on January 7 [21:00 GMT]," Putin said according to a Kremlin statement.

“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 statement added.

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