This is the first end-of-year celebrations in Ukraine since the start of the Russian-led war. On December 25, air raid sirens sounded again in kyiv.
Celebrate Christmas despite the war. As Ukrainians celebrate their first holiday season since the start of the Russian-led war in their country, some decide not to be discouraged.
This Sunday, December 25, despite the air raid sirens resounding in kyiv, some inhabitants of the capital sang Christmas carols in the metro.
On Sunday, Orthodox Christians also celebrated Christmas in the Ukrainian capital, a sign of defiance towards the Russian religious authorities, who will celebrate the birth of Jesus in two weeks.
Ukraine, whose population is predominantly Orthodox, is in fact divided between a Church dependent on the Patriarchate of Moscow, which announced that it was severing its ties with Russia at the end of May because of the Russian offensive, and a Church independent of the Russian supervision. Created at the end of 2018, the latter has pledged allegiance to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has its headquarters in Istanbul.
A difficult Christmas for Ukraine
Christmas has a “bitter aftertaste” for Ukrainians this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his Christmas greetings on Saturday evening.
“Dinner at the family table cannot be so tasty and warm. There may be empty chairs around. And our houses and streets cannot be so bright,” he said in his speech.
Russia has been targeting energy infrastructure for several months during its strikes in Ukraine, leading to regular power cuts in the country.
The Ukrainian president, however, wanted to be encouraging: “We will sing Christmas carols – more cheerful than ever – louder than the noise of a generator. We will hear the voices and the wishes of the loved ones – in our hearts – even if the communication services and the internet are down,” he said in his speech.
“And even in total darkness, we will find each other, to hold each other tight. And if there is no heat, we will hold each other tight for warmth” , he added
