The statement of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will observe a ceasefire on Orthodox Christmas may be an information operation.

Its purpose is to damage the reputation of Ukraine.

This was reported by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in a new report.

According to analysts, Putin wants a break for his troops to give them the opportunity to rest, regain strength and reorient themselves to resume the offensive on critical areas of the front.

"Such a pause will immeasurably benefit the Russian troops and will begin to deprive Ukraine of initiative. Putin called for a ceasefire in order to present Ukraine as intransigent and unwilling to take the necessary steps for negotiations," analysts believe.

The ISW recalled that Russia had used such deliberate information tactics before.

"Putin cannot reasonably expect Ukraine to comply with the terms of this suddenly announced cease-fire, and may have called for a cease-fire to present Ukraine as intransigent and unwilling to take the necessary steps for negotiations," the experts said.

We will remind that on January 5, it became known about

Vladimir Putin's

instructions to the Minister of Defense Serhiy Shoigu to introduce a ceasefire regime along the entire front line in Ukraine from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7.

Prior to that, Putin's supporter Patriarch Kirill called Ukraine for a "ceasefire" at Christmas.

In his so-called statement, he did not call the war in Ukraine a war, but declared an "interpersonal conflict."

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, responded to the Russian Federation's proposal for a "Christmas truce".

He called the Kremlin's statement cynical.

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