Putin's 'truce' begins, with Ukraine dismissing the move as a ploy

So much for Putin’s ‘truce’: Shelling continues in frontline city of Bakhmut shortly after 36-hour ceasefire – dismissed as a ploy by Ukraine – was due to begin

• Russia’s 36-hour ceasefire to allow for the Orthodox Christmas has begun
• But outgoing and incoming shelling could still be heard in eastern Ukraine
• Russians also shelled a fire station in Kherson, with one killed and four wounded
• Kyiv dismissed Russia’s temporary ‘truce’, calling the move a ploy

Russia’s 36-hour ceasefire to allow soldiers to celebrate Orthodox Christmas has begun with Ukraine rejecting the move and calling it a ploy.

But shortly after the Russian ceasefire was supposed to come into effect, outgoing and incoming shelling could still be heard in the frontline city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

The artillery fire was lighter than it has been in recent days and the streets of the largely bombed-out city were mostly empty except for military vehicles.

Russians also shelled a fire station in Kherson today, despite the announcement of the ceasefire. One individual was killed and four were wounded.

Despite announcement of a ceasefire, Russians shelled a fire station in Kherson today. One of the rescuers was killed and four were wounded

Russian’s shelled a fire station in Kherson today, January 6, 2022

One of the rescuers was killed, and four were wounded. Rescue equipment and the building was also damaged, Kherson, January 6, 2022

Putin’s Thursday announcement that the Kremlin’s troops will stop fighting along the 684-mile front line or elsewhere was unexpected. Pictured: Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, 05 January 2023

It was also announced that Russian forces struck the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine on Friday, after the supposed start of a unilateral Russian ceasefire.

The impact of Vladimir Putin’s order for his forces to observe the unilateral truce which was supposed to have begun at 12pm local time also came into doubt after the dismissal from Kyiv.

Kyiv did not clarify whether Ukrainian troops will follow suit, and Moscow did not say whether it would hit back if Ukraine were to continue fighting.

The Russian-declared truce in the nearly 11-month war began at noon local time on Friday and will continue until midnight on Sunday.

Putin’s Thursday announcement that the Kremlin’s troops would stop fighting along the 684-mile front line or elsewhere came unexpectedly.

Russian Orthodox Church head, Patriarch Kirill, proposed the ceasefire for this weekend’s Orthodox Christmas holiday.

The Orthodox Church, which uses the Julian calendar, celebrates Christmas on January 7.

But Ukrainian and western officials suspect an ulterior motive in Putin’s apparent goodwill gesture.

Russia’s 36-hour ceasefire to allow soldiers to celebrate Orthodox Christmas has begun with Ukraine rejecting the move and calling it a ploy. Pictured: A girl lights a candle before the start of the Orthodox Christmas in the St. Michael’s Monastery of Kyiv, Ukraine, January 6, 2023

The ‘truce’ came after the Russian Orthodox Church head, Patriarch Kirill, proposed a ceasefire for this weekend’s Orthodox Christmas holiday. Pictured: An elderly Ukrainian woman kisses an icon before the start of the Orthodox Christmas in the St. Michael’s Monastery of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, January 6, 2023

Kyiv did not clarify whether Ukrainian troops will follow suit, and Moscow did not say whether it will hit back if Ukraine continues fighting. Pictured: A Ukrainian soldier sits on a tank carryied by a transporter near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on May 12, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky questioned the Kremlin’s intentions, accusing it of planning the fighting pause ‘to continue the war with renewed vigour’.

‘Now they want to use Christmas as a cover to stop the advance of our guys in the [eastern] Donbas [region] for a while and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilised people closer to our positions,’ Mr Zelensky said late on Thursday.

He did not, however, state outright that Kyiv will ignore Putin’s request.

US President Joe Biden echoed Mr Zelensky’s wariness, saying it is ‘interesting’ Vladimir Putin was ready to bomb hospitals, nurseries and churches over the western Christmas period.

‘I think [Putin] is trying to find some oxygen,’ Mr Biden said without elaborating.

The truce order seems to be a ploy ‘to rest, refit, regroup, and ultimately re-attack’, US state department spokesman Ned Price said. Pictured: A burned Barabashovo market in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 21 May 2022

US state department spokesman Ned Price said Washington has ‘little faith in the intentions behind this announcement’, saying Kremlin officials ‘have given us no reason to take anything that they offer at face value’.

The truce order seems to be a ploy ‘to rest, refit, regroup, and ultimately re-attack’, he said.

The Institute For The Study Of War agreed the truce may be a ruse allowing Russia to regroup.

‘Such a pause would disproportionately benefit Russian troops and begin to deprive Ukraine of the initiative,’ the think tank said late on Thursday.

‘Putin cannot reasonably expect Ukraine to meet the terms of this suddenly declared ceasefire and may have called for the ceasefire to frame Ukraine as unaccommodating and unwilling to take the necessary steps toward negotiations.’

Washington says it is prepared to keep backing Ukraine’s war effort.

On Friday, the US is due to announce nearly three billion dollars (£2.52 billion) in military aid for Ukraine – a massive new package which is expected to include several dozen Bradley fighting vehicles for the first time.

Shortly after the Russian ceasefire was supposed to come into effect, outgoing and incoming shelling could still be heard in the frontline city of Bakhmut. Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers firing artillery on the Donbass frontline, Ukraine on December 28, 2022

The artillery fire was lighter than it has been in recent days and the streets of the largely bombed-out city were mostly empty. Pictured: Construction workers climb onto the roof of a destroyed church in the village of Bohorodychne, Donetsk region on January 4, 2023

The ill-feeling between the warring sides shows no signs of abating, despite the backdrop of Christmas.

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s security council, said those who rejected Putin’s proposal for a Christmas truce are ‘clowns’ and ‘pigs’.

‘The hand of Christian mercy was extended to the Ukrainians,’ he said in a Telegram post. ‘But pigs have no faith and no innate sense of gratitude.’

Some civilians on the streets of Kyiv said they speak from bitter experience in doubting Russia’s motives.

‘Everybody is preparing (for an attack) because everybody remembers what happened on the New Year when there were around 40 Shahed (Iranian drones),’ local resident Vasyl Kuzmenko said. ‘But everything is possible.’

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