Bakhmut Ukraine
Reuters
Shellfire echoed on Saturday around the near-deserted streets of the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, current focus of the most intense fighting in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, despite Moscow’s declaration of a ceasefire for Eastern Orthodox Christmas.
Sparkling clear skies and a dusting of snow belied the devastation of a city abandoned by most of its pre-war population of 70,000, where humanitarian volunteers now risk their lives to support those who stayed.
Plumes of smoke rise from a Russian strike during a 36-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, from the frontline Donbas city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on 7th January, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas service at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on 7th January, 2023. PICTURE: Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via Reuters
PUTIN PRAISES RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH FOR BACKING TROOPS IN UKRAINE
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday praised the Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Moscow’s forces fighting in Ukraine in an Orthodox Christmas message designed to rally people behind his vision of modern Russia.
The Kremlin issued Putin’s message after the Russian leader attended an Orthodox Christmas Eve service on his own inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration.
In his message, accompanied on the Kremlin website by an image of him standing before religious icons, Putin made it clear he saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an important stabilising force for society at a time he has cast as a historical clash between Russia and the West over Ukraine and other issues.
“It is deeply gratifying to note the enormous constructive contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations in unifying society, preserving our historical memory, educating youth and strengthening the institution of family,” said Putin.
“Church organisations prioritise…supporting our warriors taking part in the special military operation [in Ukraine]. Such massive, complex and truly selfless work deserves sincere respect.”
On Friday, Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire for the celebrations, but Kyiv rejected it as Moscow’s ploy to buy time and regroup and Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery fire after the announcement.
Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on 7th January, but the Russian Orthodox Church’s backing for Moscow’s war in Ukraine has angered many Ukrainian Orthodox believers and splintered the worldwide Orthodox Church.
Of 260 million Orthodox Christians in the world, about 100 million are in Russia itself and some of those abroad are in unity with Moscow.
Others are strongly opposed, however, and reject Moscow’s assertion that its 24th February invasion last year was an essential pre-emptive strike to defend its own security and that of Russian speakers in Ukraine.
Ukraine has about 30 million Orthodox believers, divided between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and two other Orthodox Churches, one of which is the autocephalous, or independent, Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
In a service on Friday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow criticised Ukraine for cracking down on the branch of the Orthodox church with longstanding ties to Moscow.
– ANDREW OSBORN and DAVID LJUNGGREN/Reuters
“Dear God, our town used to be so beautiful,” said 75-year-old Olha, smartly dressed and wearing lipstick as she carried shopping bags along the street.
“There were roses everywhere, flowers,” she added, hardly flinching at the sound of a distant boom. “It was clean, everything was kept in order.”
Moscow said on Saturday its forces in Ukraine would maintain a 36-hour ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin until midnight, despite Ukraine rejecting the offer.
In a Facebook post, the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said Russian troops had shelled dozens of positions and settlements along the front line on Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the attacks showed Moscow could not be trusted.
“They were saying something about a supposed ceasefire. The reality, however, was that Russian shells once again hit Bakhmut and other Ukrainian positions,” he said in a video address.
Russia said its troops had only returned artillery fire when fired upon by Ukrainian forces; Reuters was not able to ascertain the origin of the shells heard in Bakhmut.
“The ceasefire, you know how that works?” said 30-year-old humanitarian volunteer Vasyl Liesin.
“When Putin says there’s a ceasefire, it’s actually the other way round: there’s no ceasefire. They shelled us a lot yesterday. During the night, it was more or less calm. But that’s how it usually is: one day there’s shelling, the next day it’s calmer.”
A drive around Bakhmut, which sits on the front line bisecting Ukraine’s Donetsk province, reveals the scars of months of bombardment, from smashed storefronts to mangled workshops and wrecked businesses.
Volunteers like Liesin help to maintain “invincibility centres”, set up to provide electricity, heat, water, internet service, mobile phone connections and medicines free of charge as Russian attacks devastate basic civilian infrastructure.
The centres may demonstrate indomitable spirit, but they are far from invulnerable.
“When we visited another invincibility point yesterday for 15-20 minutes, a rocket hit us. It damaged a volunteer vehicle, killed one person, and injured four,” said Liesin, who was wearing a helmet and a flak jacket.
“Volunteers were injured, and one local Bakhmut volunteer lost a limb and was evacuated. I hope that people were in their protective gear, but the situation is unclear. We know they were seriously injured.”
Olha, who declined to give her surname, poured scorn on the idea of any Christmas respite from Russia’s onslaught. “I think they’re tricking us, it’s pretty obvious to me,” she said.
“What else can I tell you? If someone makes a promise, that someone must fulfil it. Promises are made to be kept. I just don’t understand, what do they need?”
