Photo: Efrem Lukatsky

Ukrainians and Russians on Saturday (Jan 7) marked Orthodox Christmas under the shadow of war, as fighting persisted despite Russian President Vladimir Putin unilaterally ordering his forces to pause attacks. Despite Mr Putin’s ceasefire order, war-scarred cities in eastern Ukraine saw no significant let-up in the fighting as AFP journalists in the town of Chasiv Yar, south of the frontline city of Bakhmut, heard heavy artillery fire throughout much of Saturday morning.

Source: Little let-up in fighting as Ukraine, Russia mark Orthodox Christmas