Russia declared a 30-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas, halting air, missile, sea, and ground attacks. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, while accepting the truce, called for its extension to 30 days. Although fighting largely ceased, some violations were reported.
Reports indicated minimal changes on the frontlines. Ukrainian forces recorded 59 shelling incidents and five ground attacks by the time of the report. While most areas saw reduced fighting, intense battles continued in the Kursk direction around Oleshnia. The Ukrainian military responded to any breaches of the ceasefire.
The article suggests that the sudden ceasefire could be a tactical maneuver by Putin. The peace offering was met with skepticism by Ukraine and Western observers.