Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it.
The explanatory note attached to the law said its goal is to"abandon the Russian heritage," including that of"imposing the celebration of Christmas" on Jan. 7. It cited Ukrainians'"relentless, successful struggle for their identity" and"the desire of all Ukrainians to live their lives with their own traditions, holidays," fueled by Russia's 17-month-old aggressionLast year, some Ukrainians already observed Christmas on Dec.
Ukraine's religious landscape has fractured for years. There are two branches of Orthodox Christianity in the country, one aligned with the Russian church, even as it enjoys broad autonomy, the other completely independent of it. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the branch that is separate from the Russian church, announced earlier this year that it was switching to the Revised Julian calendar, which marks Christmas on Dec. 25.
Zelenskyy described the attack as one of Russia's"most vile and cruel crimes" in a video statement Saturday. Russian forces on Friday struck the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro and pounded, Staromaiorske, a key village in the southeast that Ukraine claimed to have recaptured in its grinding counteroffensive, while Moscow accused Kyiv of firing two missiles at southern Russia and wounding 20 people.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine moves official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25, denouncing Russian-imposed traditionsUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday signed a law moving the official Christmas Day holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day when the Russian Orthodox Church observes it.
Read more »
On southern front, Ukrainian forces aim to smash through Russian defensesIntense fighting raged along Ukraine’s front lines Thursday, according to officials in Kyiv, as Ukrainian troops made slow but steady gains in their ongoing counteroffensive to drive a wedge through the Russian-occupied south.
Read more »
Ukrainian fencer disqualified from World Championships after refusing handshake with Russian opponentUkrainian fencer Olga Kharlan, a four-time Olympic medalist and four-time individual world champion, was disqualified from this year’s championships in Milan after she refused to shake hands with h…
Read more »
Putin ‘carefully’ examining African initiatives for Russian-Ukrainian peace dealsRussian President Vladimir Putin assured African leaders on Friday that the Kremlin was 'carefully' examining their peace proposals for an end to the invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »
IOC urges sensitivity in handling Ukrainian, Russian athletes after fencer's disqualificationInternational federations should handle situations involving Ukrainian and neutral athletes with sensitivity, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said after a Ukrainian fencer was disqualified for refusing to shake hands with a Russian opponent.
Read more »
Russian defense ministry says it intercepted Ukrainian missile, injuring civiliansThe Russian defense ministry accused Kyiv of firing a missile at the Russian city of Taganrog on Friday near the border with Ukraine.
Read more »