Attended Orthodox Christmas Eve Service
Ceasefire Proposed but Rejected, Bombardment Continues
[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Despite the ongoing bombardment amid the war with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Russian Orthodox Christmas service and expressed gratitude for the support of the invasion of Ukraine.
On the 8th, major foreign media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that President Putin participated in the Russian Orthodox Christmas Eve service at the church inside the Kremlin, the presidential residence, and delivered a Christmas message.
Through this, President Putin expressed thanks for the Russian Orthodox Church's support of the war of invasion in Ukraine. He praised, saying, "The Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations are making a very constructive contribution to uniting society, preserving our historical memory, educating the youth, and strengthening the family system," and added, "Church organizations prioritize supporting our warriors participating in the special military operation in Ukraine, and working selflessly like this deserves sincere respect."
Some countries that believe in the Orthodox Church, including Russia and Ukraine, have celebrated Christmas annually on January 7. Ahead of this, President Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire on the 6th, but Ukraine rejected it, calling it a stalling tactic for regrouping. In fact, even after President Putin declared the ceasefire, both sides continued shelling.
WSJ noted that President Putin regards this as a 'holy war' against the 'corrupt West.' Kirill, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, stated in an interview with state-run media that "believers should see this war as a sacred struggle against the West to preserve the 'Russian world' and place Slavic lands under Moscow's spiritual and political leadership."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a Christmas message released late on the night of the 6th, stated, "The Ukrainian army is fighting not to become prey but to defeat the beast."
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