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PBS NewsHourDec 13, 2022
Day 318: Reports of Shelling on Frontlines Despite Russia's Proposed Ceasefire
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Image copyright: AP Photos [via Al Jazeera]
The Facts
As Christmas church services were held across Russia and many parts of Ukraine on Saturday, reports suggest that shooting and artillery shelling continued to be exchanged along the frontlines despite Russia declaring a 36-hour ceasefire earlier in the week.
The unilateral declaration from Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin — set to last from midday Moscow time on Jan. 6 to midnight on Jan. 7 — was overwhelmingly rejected by Ukrainian leaders, making the ceasefire meaningless and unenforceable in terms of international law.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Putin's hastily announced ceasefire is part of an information war aimed at discrediting Ukrainians. Ukraine could not be reasonably expected to suddenly meet its terms, and Putin wants to leverage this to make Ukrainians seem unwilling to cooperate.
Pro-Russia narrative
A hand of Christian mercy was offered to Ukrainians, but this was swiped away. This helps Russians to know who they're dealing with and ensures that future opportunities for deception don't creep in.
