Friday, July 28, 2023

Ukraine Moves Christmas Day in Snub to Russia

Many Ukrainians - like these people in Kyiv's underground - celebrated last Christmas in shelters amid continuing Russian attacks | EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

BBC: Ukraine has moved its official Christmas Day state holiday from 7 January to 25 December, the latest move aimed at distancing itself from Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law a parliamentary bill that aimed to "abandon the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations".

In recent years, Kyiv has been cutting religious, cultural and other ties with Russia, aligning itself with the West.

This process escalated following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Mr Zelensky signed the bill on Friday - two weeks after it had been passed by Ukrainian lawmakers. » | Jaroslav Lukiv, BBC News | Friday, July 28, 2023