Putin orders his Defence Minister to cease fire for Christmas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Sergei Shoigu, the Minister of Defence of Russia, to implement a Christmas ceasefire from 12:00 6 January to 24:00 7 January along the entire contact line in Ukraine.

Ukraine must accept the loss of territories for dialogue, Putin tells Erdoğan.

On Thursday, 5 January, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telephone conversation with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, that Russia is open to dialogue over Ukraine, but Kyiv must take into account "new territorial realities.

The Kremlin noted that Putin spoke about the "destructive role of the West", which is "pumping Ukraine with weapons."

At the same time, Vladimir Putin allegedly "reaffirmed Russia's openness to a serious dialogue", provided that the Kyiv authorities fulfill the well-known and repeatedly voiced requirements and consider "the new territorial realities."

Apart from that, according to the Kremlin, Putin and Erdoğan discussed the Istanbul agreements on exporting Ukrainian grain and supplying food and fertilizers from Russia.

"The need for a conscientious comprehensive approach, which involves the removal of all barriers to Russian exports, was emphasized," the statement of the Kremlin reads.

The Commander of Kyiv's defense forces explains why it will be difficult for Russians to advance beyond the border with Belarus.

Ukraine's defense forces have created a multi-level defense system in the country's north, which will not allow Russians to go beyond the border with Belarus.

The Commander of Kyiv defense forces, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, said: "We have formed a group, which is ready to meet the enemy with dignity on the border with Belarus. Kyiv Oblast has been quite prepared for a possible new offensive: these are several lines around Kyiv with a total length of about 1,000 km. A powerful defense system has been created based on fortification positions and long-term defensive structures; it will be impossible to pass through it easily."

Pavlik has noted that Russians would not be able to move past the Ukraine-Belarus border as it is "full of rubble and minefields." "In addition, artillery fire, work of sniper groups and mobile fire groups are planned them," he said, adding that "we do not plan to let them pass beyond the border."

Russians kill an entire family in Kherson Oblast.

Russian troops fired on Beryslav in Kherson Oblast; as a result, a projectile hit a residential building, killing a 12-year-old boy and his parents.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Deputy Head of the President’s Office, shared his thoughts about what happened: "Tragic news in the city today. As a result of an attack launched by occupiers, a projectile hit a house, killing a family.

This is all the baseness and meanness of Russia. They talk about the ‘Christmas truce’ in the morning and kill a whole family by lunchtime. What are the husband, wife, and their 12-year-old son guilty of?

Only because they are Ukrainians? People were preparing to celebrate Christmas together, but a cynical strike by Russians killed them in their own home..."