Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian soldiers were carrying out a sacred mission comparable to that of Jesus Christ as he marked the Orthodox Christmas holiday on Wednesday.
Putin attended a midnight Christmas service with members of the military and their families at the Church of St. George the Victorious in the Moscow region, the Kremlin said.
“Today we celebrate the wonderful, bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ,” Putin said in brief remarks after the service, according to a Kremlin transcript.
“We often call the Lord the Savior because He came to Earth to save all people. In the same way, Russia’s warriors have always carried out this mission — defending the Fatherland, saving the Motherland and its people,” he said.
He said that throughout Russia’s history, soldiers had been viewed as people performing a “holy mission” on God’s behalf, “as if entrusted by the Lord himself.”
Putin also addressed the children of military personnel, telling them they had the right to be proud of their parents, as Russians had “always” taken pride in their soldiers. He added that the joy of Christmas was shared by all Russian troops, including those of other faiths.
“We rejoice with them when they celebrate their holidays, just as we all rejoice together in our common victories,” Putin said. “As is well known, victory is always one for all.”
Putin has increasingly emphasized the role of the military and national unity in public remarks since launching Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
He again focused on the military in his New Year’s address last week, saying that “millions” of Russians across the country were standing behind those fighting in what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“The strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of the Fatherland, its development and its future,” he said, adding that “work, successes and achievements of each of us add new chapters to [Russia’s] thousand-year history.”
Western estimates suggest Russia has suffered hundreds of thousands of military casualties, while Ukraine has lost tens of thousands of soldiers in the war.
Indigenous peoples from Russia’s regions and ethnic republics have borne a disproportionate share of the burden of military mobilization.
The United Nations estimates that more than 14,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the nearly four-year war and has accused Russia of committing crimes against humanity against civilians in Ukraine.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
