Despite Russia's announced ceasefire, fighting continues in Ukraine

The truce, proclaimed by Russia in Ukraine, has been broken by Ukrainian forces for Orthodox Christmas. Kiev announced that fighting has been fought in several Ukrainian cities, but Moscow said it has responded to Ukrainian forces' fire. Britain's British Defence Ministry also confirmed that fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has followed.

Kiev says Moscow has not stopped the attacks despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a temporary ceasefire during Orthodox Christmas. According to the Ukrainian Army spokesman, in the last 24 hours, Russian forces have carried out nearly 20 attacks.

The danger of air strikes and missile attacks remains throughout Ukraine. The enemy's main goals have focused on efforts to fully grasp the Donnetsk region. Likewise, they are conducting attacks in the direction of the town of Bakhmut”, said Oleksandr Steupun, spokesman for the Ukrainian Army.

In addition to Donnetsk, Kiev says Ukraine's most eastern regions have been hit, such as Luhansk, Kharkivi, Zaporizija, and the southern region, Kherson.

The city's governor of Sevastopol in Russia's annexed Crime, via a post on the social network “Telegram”, said the air defence collapsed on Saturday. Mikhail Razvozhaev said the drone was launched by the Ukain forces.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces in Ukraine would respect the unilaterally proclaimed ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas by midnight. Russian Defence Ministry spokesman said Russian troops had responded to the Ukrainian forces' attacks.

Britain's Defence Ministry also confirmed that fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces has continued during the Orthodox Christmas season. According to British discovery, fiercer fighting has been fought around the town of Kreina, in the Luhansk region. / VOA/