Signs of fighting in Ukraine after Russia says unilateral truce in force

Artillery fire could be heard from the front line in Ukraine on Friday, even after the official start of a unilateral ceasefire declared by Moscow and rejected by Kyiv.

President Vladimir Putin ordered the 36-hour ceasefire from midday on Friday to observe Orthodox Christmas. Kyiv has said it has no intention to stop fighting, rejecting the purported truce as a stunt by Moscow to buy time to reinforce troops that have taken heavy losses.

Russia’s defence ministry said its troops began observing the ceasefire from noon “along the entire line of contact” in the conflict, but said Ukraine kept up