Ukrainians continue to celebrate Orthodox Christmas despite threats of strikes as Russia backs out of Ukraine’s truce offer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine from Friday until January 7, when many Orthodox Christians, including in Russia and Ukraine, celebrate the religious holiday. It was the first call for a ceasefire since the start of the war last February.
Kyiv insisted that there would be no truce until the Russian troops left, implying that the request for a truce was just a ploy to allow Moscow to reinforce its troops.
Despite Russia’s promise, Ukrainian authorities say a series of attacks were carried out in at least six regions during the alleged ceasefire, Sky News reported. Three people have reportedly been killed and 14 others injured since the ceasefire began.
It is reported that the attacks took place in the east of the Donetsk region, as well as in the cities of Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, Nikolaev and Zaporozhye. A correspondent for CNN in Kyiv reported that air raid sirens sounded during the Christmas service.
Moscow insisted that it was observing the ceasefire, but the British Ministry of Defense said that during this period, hostilities “will continue at the usual level.”
But the threat of strikes hasn’t stopped many Ukrainians from celebrating with photos of crowded worship services and people lighting candles.
Mother who fled to Britain during the war told a story I She returned to Kyiv with the intention of celebrating Christmas normally.
The Putin truce came after the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, called on both sides to respect the Christmas truce.
In his Christmas message, Mr. Putin praised the church’s support for his invasion of Ukraine, saying: “Church organizations are prioritizing … supporting our soldiers participating in a special military operation (in Ukraine). Such a large-scale, complex and truly selfless work deserves real respect.”
Putin was pictured at an Orthodox service on Christmas Eve, alone and away from the public.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using Christmas “as a cover, albeit not for long, to stop the advance of our guys into the Donbass and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized troops closer to our positions.”
Responding to calls for a ceasefire on Thursday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry tweeted: “The attacker, who shelled peaceful Ukrainian cities on December 24, 25 and New Year’s Eve, proposed a Christmas ceasefire on December 6 and January 7. After 10 months of genocide, after the destruction of hundreds of Ukrainian churches, is it too late for the Kremlin to think about God?”
US President Joe Biden has hinted that Putin’s call for a ceasefire, after more than a decade of war and thousands of deaths, is an attempt to “find some oxygen.”
President Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday: “I hesitate to answer everything Putin says. It seemed interesting to me that he was ready to bomb hospitals, kindergartens and churches … on the 25th and on the New Year. I mean, I think he’s trying to find some oxygen.
Source: I News
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