Ukraine celebrates for the first time Christmas in December to mark the separation of the Russian Orthodox Church, while trying to stop the enemy offensive in the east and south of the country.
“Today all Ukrainians are together. We all celebrate Christmas together. On the same date, as a great family, as a nation, as a united country.”, noted the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyin a message to the nation on the occasion of the Christmas.
It is the first time that Ukrainians will attend the Midnight Mass on December 24 after the approval this year of a law to move Christmas celebrations from January to December in an attempt to sever all ties with Russia, where the birth of Christ is celebrated two weeks later.
“In the end the darkness loses. Evil loses. Today, that is our common goal, a common dream. And to that (we dedicate) our common prayer today”Zelensky added.
New drone attacks
The military administrations of a total of eleven Ukrainian regions previously reported of Russian attacks with drones, aviation, missiles and artillery in the last 24 hours, as a result of which at least three civilians died in Kherson (south).
At night, Russian artillery struck the provincial capital of that name from the eastern bank of the Dnieper River.
Also in other regions such as Chernigov (north), Dnipro (center) or Mikolaiv and Zaporizhia (south) impacts from missiles of different types, artillery fire and kamikaze drones were recorded.
On the Donbas front, in Donetsk, Russian artillery injured six civilians, while in Lugansk, Russian forces used aviation and launched drones, according to the military administration of that region.
People attend a Christmas Eve prayer service at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in kyiv, Ukraine, December 24, 2023 | Photo: EFE/EPA/OLEG PETRASYUK
Russia shoots down planes
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense assured this Sunday in its daily report that the Russian forces They shot down three Su-27 fighters and one Su-24 bomber of the Ukrainian Air Force.
“Air defense systems shot down four Ukrainian aircraft: three Su-27 and one Su-24,” says the military statement.
The note specifies that the planes were destroyed in the regions of Zaporizhzhia (southern) and Dnipro (center).
The Russian Ministry of Defense added that throughout the previous day its forces neutralized 49 Ukrainian drones and caused more than 700 casualties to the enemy.
According to the Russian military, on the Donetsk front, where the Russian Army has moved into offensive actions, eight attacks by Ukrainian assault groups were repelled.
The Ukrainian military, in turn, estimated at one thousand Russian artillery attacks against their positions during the day this Sunday.
They also claimed to have caused about 800 casualties to enemy troops.
Offensive in various sectors of the front
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Army reported in its daily report that the Russian offensive continues in several sectors of the front.
At the same time, according to kyiv, its forces put up firm resistance, “maintaining occupied positions and inflicting significant losses” on the enemy.
In particular, the military note refers to the situation on the left bank of the Dnieper River, in Kherson, where Ukrainian forces managed to establish a position.
“The enemy does not give up plans to expel our units from the left bank of the Dnieper and during one day carried out 23 unsuccessful assaults,” the war report states.
:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/KHSMODKR2BAQTN26CKJJUGB7ZI.jpg "Ukraine celebrates Christmas for the first time in December, despite fighting continuing in the east and south of the country 1")
Metropolitan Epiphanius (C) of kyiv attends a Christmas Eve prayer service at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral in kyiv, Ukraine, December 24, 2023 | Photo: EFE/EPA/OLEG PETRASYUK
Rumors of a ceasefire
Meanwhile, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) this Sunday questioned the New York Times article suggesting that Russia would be seeking a ceasefire in Ukraine.
According to the analytical center, if this information is true, it could be attempts to “redirect the Western focus towards hypothetical negotiations instead of guaranteeing that Ukraine has enough material” to continue military actions.
:quality(75)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/elcomercio/f166835a-1a07-4080-9c33-5e7ee83f5eab.png "Ukraine celebrates Christmas for the first time in December, despite fighting continuing in the east and south of the country 2")
