In view of the upcoming Orthodox Christmas, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a one-and-a-half day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Putin instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to cease hostilities in the neighboring country from Friday noon until Sunday night, according to a Kremlin statement on Thursday.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, had previously called for a ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas.

In order for all Orthodox to be able to attend the services, the guns should be silent between 12 noon on Friday and midnight on Saturday, said Kirill, who supports the Russian president. 

More information coming soon