2023 Russian Christmas truce proposal
| Part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |
| Date | 5–7 January 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location | Europe |
| Participants | about 90% of Russian forces in Ukraine at the time (according to Russia) |
| Outcome | Partially applied |
On 5 January 2023, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, called on both sides of the Russian invasion of Ukraine for an Eastern Orthodox Christmas truce. On the evening of the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to declare a 36-hour temporary ceasefire along the entire line of contact between Russian and Ukrainian troops from midday (12:00 Moscow Time; 09:00 UTC) on 6 January to midnight (24:00/00:00 Moscow Time; 21:00 UTC) on 7 to 8 January 2023.
The truce proposal was rejected by the Ukrainian authorities, who called it a "cynical trap". Despite the ceasefire being declared, it had little effect as fighting persisted.
The Wagner Group (about 10% of Russia's total forces in Ukraine at the time) did not commit to the ceasefire and was not ordered to observe it (it was not a part of the Russian Defense Ministry).