Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a religious service celebrated alone in a Kremlin church this Friday at midnight for Orthodox Christmas - celebrated on January 7 - marked by the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
The Russian president followed the celebration in the Cathedral of the Annunciation, originally designed as a church for the tsars, led by priests in golden albs, some of whom held candelabra, according to footage released by the Kremlin.
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In previous years, Vladimir Putin used to attend religious services for Orthodox Christmas in Russian provinces or on the outskirts of Moscow.
In a message broadcast this Saturday by the Kremlin, the Russian president sent his congratulations to Orthodox Christians, indicating that this day inspires “
good deeds and aspirations
”.
He also said he prayed for the Orthodox Church, whose influential leader, Patriarch Kirill, fully supported the offensive of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine decided by Vladimir Putin.
The Christmas celebration that Putin attended alone was celebrated by several priests in golden albs.
SPUTNIK / REUTERS
Truce broken
Church organizations “
support our soldiers who are taking part in a special military operation
,” the Russian president said, using the official Kremlin term for the offensive in Ukraine.
“
Such tremendous, multi-faceted, and truly ascetic work deserves the sincerest respect
,” he added.
Read alsoRussia-Ukraine: “The hourglass of war”
Patriarch Kirill called on believers to support pro-Russian “
brothers
” during the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Since the start of the offensive in Ukraine on February 24, he has delivered sermons in which he gave his blessing to the Russian troops while castigating the Ukrainian authorities.
In a sermon last year, he said that dying in Ukraine “
washes away all sins
”.
The patriarch had called on Thursday, January 5, Moscow and kyiv to establish a ceasefire in Ukraine on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas celebration.
In the process, Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral ceasefire for 36 hours.
But the artillery duels continued Friday January 6 in Bakhmout, the hot spot of the front in eastern Ukraine, as well as the bombardments in other regions, despite the announcement of the cease-fire. unilateral fire.
AFP journalists heard shots on the Ukrainian and Russian sides after the start of the ceasefire in this city with largely destroyed and deserted streets, but their intensity was lower than in previous days.
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