Ukraine: Zelensky sounds defiant note in Christmas message

Kyiv, Ukraine
CNN
—

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Ukrainians stock up on “patience and faith” in cheeky Christmas message after deadly wave of Russian strikes hit the southern city of Kherson.

Ten months in the Russian war on Ukraine, Zelensky said of endurance and go to the end, while recognizing that “freedom comes at a high level price”.

He called the nation to resilience in in face of harsh winter of power outages, no of relatives and constant threat of Russian attacks.

Zelenskiy’s message came after Ukrainian officials said Russia had launched deadly Rocket fire in the center of Kherson on christmas eve, killing minimum 10 people and wounding dozens. Zelenskiy described these attacks as “killing for for the sake of of fear and pleasure.

In his Christmas message, Zelensky acknowledged that all holidays have a bitter aftertaste. for besieged country is year.

“We can feel traditional Spirit of Christmas is different. Dinner at family the table cannot be so tasty and warm.

“There may be empty chairs around him. And our houses and streets can’t be like this bright. And Christmas bells may not ring as loudly and inspirationally. Across air raid sirens, or even worse, gunshots and explosions.”

He said that Ukraine resisted evil forces for three hundred days and eight years, however,in this is a battle we have another powerful and effective weapons. Hammer and sword of our spirit and consciousness. Wisdom of God. Courage and bravery. Virtues that bow us make good and conquer evil.

Appeal to Ukrainian people directly he said that the country would sing Christmas carols louder than sound of a power generator and hear voices and greetings of relatives “in our hearts”, even if communication services and the Internet down.

“And even in total darkness – we will find each other – we will hug each other tightly. And if there is no heat, we will give a big cuddle to keep each other warm.”

Zelensky summed up: “We will celebrate our holidays! As always. Let’s smile and be happy. As always. The difference is one. we won’t wait for a miracle. After all, we create it ourselves.”

Christmas is traditionally celebrated in Ukraine on January 7th in line with Orthodox Christian practices recognizing birth of Jesus according to the Julian calendar.

But the long-term gap between the Ukrainian and Russian branches of The Orthodox Church has expanded since Moscow. invasion in February.

one branch of Orthodox Church of Ukraine announced last month, whatever allow its churches to celebrate Christmas on December 25th. And many young Ukrainians now prefer to watch holiday on December 25 in offer move from Russia to the West world.

Sunday night a few dozen people gathered around a darkened Christmas tree in Kyiv Sofia Square, in center of Ukrainian capital, and broke out in applause when the generator kicked in and the tree is blue and yellow the lights are turned off on.

Igor Zholudiev, IT-specialist originally from Ukraine second the largest city Kharkiv, told CNN that he found inspirational moment.

“It’s Christmas special for us because we can celebrate it in it is difficult year”, – said Zholudiev. His wishes for Christmas, new year and his birthday coincide: “victory and peace sky over our heads.

Photographer Elena Vedmid told how she prepared dinner with her family among frequent power blackouts in capital.

“We had electricity for half a day so we have time to cook the dishes,” she said. “This year we celebrated by candlelight and it was great. Everyone liked it because it was cozy and sincere.”

Hours before Zelensky gave his Christmas speech, series of deadly Russian strikes hit city of Kherson, where among the buildings were apartments and medical facilities hit according to Yaroslav Yanushevich. head of in regions military administration.

Yanushevich said on Sunday that total of 16 people was killed in 71 Russian attacks across wide Kherson region on Saturday, including three emergency workers. who died during demining operations. 64 more people got injured of According to him, varying degrees of severity.

Zelensky condemned the shelling of Kherson as an act of “terror”.

“The country of terrorists continues to bring Russian world in form of shelling of civil population. Kherson. In the morning, on Saturday, on the day before of Christmas, in central part of in city,” he said.

“Is not military objects,” he wrote. on Telegram Saturday. “This is not a war according to rules definite. it’s terror killing for for the sake of of fear and pleasure.

November in Russia military retreated from Kherson city, the only regional capital he had captured since invasion began, in big failure for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since then, Russian troops have positioned themselves across the river from Kherson and have been regularly shelling city from there.