Russia's President Vladimir Putin, in an Orthodox Christmas Liturgy on Saturday evening, pledged his support to the soldiers who have been protecting Russia's interests 'with arms in hands'. He ordered his government to bestow greater support on those fighting and called on his people to be merciful and considerate towards them, as reported by Reuters.
The intimate midnight service was held at a cathedral in Putin's Novo-Orgaryovo state residence outside Moscow on the eve of Orthodox Christmas and was attended by families of the soldiers who died in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
"Many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, Russian warriors, even now, on this holdiay, defend the interests of our country with arms in hand," said Putin, according to Reuters.
Two years later, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war that displaced millions and killed thousands has now shifted to escalated airstrikes on both sides.
This year Putin did not order a ceasefire in Ukraine as several Orthodox Christians celebrated on January 6-7, which coincided with Russia's holiday as well, said Reuters.
However, Ukraine said that a Russian missile strike in the city of Pokrovsk killed 11 people and injured 10. Russia's official also accused Kyiv of shelling regions of Donetsk, which is currently under Moscow's control, reported Reuters.
Putin, who is gearing up for the March elections, has been focusing on unity and traditional values in his softened speeches. Speaking to the families of killed servicemen, he said, "I would like our meeting to be a clear, understandable signal to all my colleagues throughout the Russian Federation and at all levels, a clear signal to ensure that my colleagues are always and everywhere with you, I repeat, any level of power," wrote Reuters.
As per Reuters, Putin has also been using the Orthodox Church as an ally to promote a "Russian world" rooted in conservative values. He asked the Church to help in the strengthening of patriotism in the country and "the instituton of families." He also told Russians to follow the "unshakable values" of "goodness, mercy, and justice" in a greeting issued on Kremlin's website.
Christmas services were also organised in several areas of Ukraine that are under Russia's control. Ukraine, on the other, hand did not celebrate Orthodox Christmas Eve, as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had changed the Christmas holiday to December 25 from Januaray 7 last year, as an act to "renounce Russian heritage," reported Reuters.