Born Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev, Kirill has been the sixteenth patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church since he was enthroned in 2009. He has attracted international scrutiny with open declarations of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022.
On January 5, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow called for a ceasefire along the front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces in Ukraine so that opposing forces could celebrate Orthodox Christmas on January 6 and 7. A few hours later, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 36-hour truce, the first since the conflict began, although artillery fire continued on Friday and Saturday from both sides.
