Kiev Continuing Shelling of Donbass While Russian Troops Observe Christmas Ceasefire: Russian MoD

The Russian military began observance of a 36 hour ceasefire regime in Ukraine at 12:00 noon on Friday, in accordance with a presidential decree. President Vladimir Putin ordered the ceasefire on Thursday after an appeal by Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church calling on "all parties in the internecine conflict" to lay down their arms.