"Orthodoxy as weapons": Putin wants to blame Kyiv of suppressing religious freedoms - isw

According to analysts, the Kremlin intends to harm the reputation of Ukraine, accusing it of oppression of Orthodox people. ISW also suggests that Putin could count on a 36-hour pause for his army to be able to prepare for offensive actions and take the initiative in the Armed Forces.

"Putin cannot be aware that Ukraine will fulfill the conditions of this suddenly declared ceasefire, and may have called for a ceasefire to present Ukraine to be inaccessible and do not want to take the necessary steps to negotiate," experts say. The report also noted that it took time to organize the ceasefire. At the same time, Putin put forward his proposal for "truce" on the eve of Christmas.

In addition, on December 14, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia did not plan to stop fighting in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas. According to ISW analysts, this indicates that the Russian president has not considered this opportunity seriously.

"The fact that Putin represents a ceasefire on religious soil, further strengthens another double Russian information operation, which depicts Ukraine as a predominant religious group and positions Putin as a true defender of the Christian faith," the report reads. It is also noted that the Russian Federation often positioned their aggression against Ukraine as the fight against "Satanism" in a neighboring country.

At the same time, in the occupied Ukrainian territory, Russia suppresses freedom of religion. We will remind that on January 5 it became known about the instructions of Vladimir Putin to the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu from 12. 00 on January 6 to 24. 00 January 7 the ceasefire regime across the front line in Ukraine. Focus also reported that the adviser to the Presidential Office of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak responded to the proposal of the Russian Federation on the "Christmas truce".