Ukraine announces New Year truce in Donbas from Dec 29

"In order to ensure the holding of the New Year and Christmas holidays in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine in accordance with the agreements reached by the Trilateral Contact Group, the command of the Joint forces is introducing from 00:00 (Kyiv time) on December 29, 2018, an indefinite ceasefire regime throughout the entire line of combat clashes with Russian occupation troops," reads the statement.

At the same time, the Joint Forces command reserves the right to open fire in the event of a threat to the lives and health of military personnel and civilians, to repel an enemy's attack on the positions of Ukrainian military personnel, and to protect military and civilian infrastructure under the protection and defense of the Joint Forces in order to prevent losses among personnel, thwart terrorist attacks, attempts to forcibly take possession of weapons, combat vehicles and other equipment, the headquarters said.