Putin Declares Ukraine Conflict a Divine Duty During Orthodox Christmas Celebration

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the mission of Russian soldiers is akin to that of Jesus Christ, as he commemorated the Orthodox Christmas holiday on Wednesday.

Putin participated in a midnight Christmas liturgy at the Church of St. George the Victorious in the Moscow area, accompanied by military personnel and their families, as reported by the Kremlin.

During his brief comments following the service, Putin remarked, “Today we honor the joyous and radiant celebration of Christ’s Nativity.” The Kremlin transcript recorded his words.

He pointed out that Jesus is often referred to as the Savior because He came to Earth for the salvation of humanity. Similarly, he asserted that Russian soldiers have always undertaken the duty of defending the homeland and protecting its people.

He emphasized that throughout Russian history, soldiers have been regarded as individuals engaged in a “sacred mission,” serving as though entrusted by the divine.

Putin, who has not commented on the recent ousting of Venezuelan ally Nicolás Maduro, was present at the midnight Orthodox Christmas service alongside military members.

Additionally, he expressed to the children of military families that they should take pride in their parents, noting that Russians have “always” been proud of their soldiers. He remarked that the joy of Christmas is felt by all Russian troops, regardless of their faith.

“We share in their celebrations during their festivities, just as we unite in our collective triumphs,” Putin stated. “As is commonly understood, victory is a shared achievement.”

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has increasingly highlighted the significance of the military and national unity in his public addresses.

He reiterated the importance of the military in his New Year’s message last week, asserting that “millions” of Russians across the nation support those involved in what Moscow refers to as its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

“The strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of our homeland, its progress, and its future,” he commented, adding that the “efforts, successes, and accomplishments of each individual contribute new chapters to [Russia’s] thousand-year history.”

Western assessments indicate that Russia has sustained hundreds of thousands of military casualties, while Ukraine has experienced tens of thousands of soldier fatalities during the conflict.

Indigenous peoples from Russia’s regions and ethnic republics have disproportionately shouldered the burdens of military mobilization.

The United Nations estimates that over 14,000 Ukrainian civilians have lost their lives in the nearly four-year conflict and has accused Russia of committing crimes against humanity against civilians in Ukraine.