Ukraine news – live: Putin’s ceasefire in doubt as air raid sirens ring in Kyiv

Russian shells hit the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsky region of Ukraine just hours before Putin’s temporary ceasefire for Orthodox Christmas, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of Ukraine’s president.

Tymoshenko wrote on social media that Russians hit the city with rockets “twice”.

A residential building was hit but there were no reported injuries.

Mayor of Kramatorsk Oleksandr Honcharenko urged residents to stay in shelters, reporting that 14 homes were damaged as a result of the rocket that hit the residential building.

Oleksnadr told Reuters: “It’s bad, very bad. We need to pressure them, get them to leave, maybe more air defence systems would help. This happens often, not only on festive occasions. Every other day.”

There are doubts over Putin’s ceasefire as air raid sirens are reportedly still ringing out over Kyiv.

Member of the Ukraine parliament Inna Sovsun tweeted: “So, two hours into the announced ceasefire, air raid sirens are blaring all over #Ukraine. Like literally, he couldn’t even hold it for two hours. That’s how much one can trust #Putin.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected calls from the Kremlin for Ukraine to reciprocate, accusing Russia of wanting to halt Kyiv’s progress in the bitter fight in eastern Ukraine.

The US President Joe Biden was also sceptical: “I found it interesting. He [Putin] was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches… on the 25th and New Year’s. I think he’s trying to find some oxygen.”

Pictures from Kyiv show people lighting candles as Ukrainian priests hold a service before the start of Orthodox Christmas.

In the photos, people are gathering in the St. Michael’s Monastery in Kyiv.

Today is Christmas Eve for many Ukrainians as well as Russians. Saturday 7 January is Christmas Day.

Reuters reports that Germany is planning to send around 40 vehicles to Ukraine.

This would constitute a battalion of Marders, which are armoured tanks.

Air raid sirens have been heard all across Ukraine today despite Putin announcing a temporary ceasefire for Russia to mark Orthodox Christmas.

The head of the Russian Orthodox church asked for a ceasefire to start at midday in Moscow (9am UK time) on Friday and last for 36 hours. Friday is Christmas Eve in Moscow and Saturday 7 January is Christmas Day.

But member of the Ukrainian parliament, Kira Rudik, tweeted that air raid sirens can be heard all across Ukraine.

On Christmas Eve for Russians and for many Ukrainian people, Russian shells have hit Kramatorsk, a city in the Donetsk region of Ukraine that Russia has claimed.

Mayor Oleksandr Honcharenko said on social media: “Kramatorsk is under fire. Stay in shelters.”

There are not further details of damage at this stage.

The Kyiv Independent tweeted: “Mayor: Russian forces attack educational sites in Kramatorsk.

“Pictures posted by Mayor Honcharenko to Facebook show that Russian strikes hit a local design college and a mechanical engineering academy. No casualties were reported.”

Russian soldiers have “violated principles of international law” after shelling a fire station in Kherson, Ukraine, causing casualties.

Serhii Kruk, head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said on the state emergency service Telegram channel on Friday: “The Russians have once again confirmed the fact that they cannot be trusted. Kherson. Another shelling of our unit. Dead and wounded.”

He said the act was “violating all the principles and norms of international law.”

It is the second time a fire department has been shelled within two days.

It is not yet known how many people are dead or injured as a result of the shelling.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited a military base where Russian troops are stationed, the defence ministry said on Friday.

During the meeting, Lukashenko and an unnamed representative from the Russian army discussed the two countries’ joint military drills, it said.

“At this stage, units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are ready to carry out tasks as intended,” the representative said.

Belarus, which is closely allied with Moscow, said on Thursday that it will receive more weapons and equipment from Russia as the two boost their military co-operation, fuelling fears it could be used as a staging post to attack Ukraine from the north.

Minsk has said it will not enter the war in Ukraine, but Russia used Belarus as a launch pad for its invasion in February and continues to use Belarusian airspace for drone and missile strikes, Kyiv says.

Putin’s troops are starting a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine war from midday in Moscow (9am UK time) on Friday to mark Orthodox Christmas.

The head of the Russian Orthodox church called for a truce to start today and last for 36 hours.

Zelensky has accused Putin of using the truce as a means to halt Kyiv’s progress in eastern Ukraine.

And US president Biden believes Putin is using the opportunity to “find some oxygen”.

He said: “I found it interesting. He [Putin] was ready to bomb hospitals and nurseries and churches… on the 25th and New Year’s. I think he’s trying to find some oxygen.”

The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Putin’s ceasefire announcements is likely an information operation to damage Ukraine’s reputation.

The ISW tweeted: “#Putin’s announcement that Russian forces will conduct a 36-hour ceasefire in observance of Russian Orthodox Christmas is likely an information operation intended to damage #Ukraine’s reputation.”

It added: “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.”