Russia launched 31 drones and 2 missiles at Ukraine overnight, mostly targeting the south of the country, with air defences destroying 28 drones and both missiles, the Ukrainian military said on Monday. “As a result of air combat, the Ukrainian Air Force and defence forces destroyed 28 Shahed attack drones in Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Kirovohrad and Khmelnytskyi regions,” Ukraine’s Air Forces said on the Telegram messaging app.
Quick Read
- Ukrainian Air Force’s Successful Interceptions: Ukraine’s air force reported significant success in intercepting Russian military efforts during the night. They claimed to have shot down two Russian fighter jets, two cruise missiles, and 28 Shahed-type drones. These attacks were reportedly directed at southern and central regions of Ukraine.
- Casualty Report from Attacks: While there were no immediate reports of casualties from these specific interceptions, the Ukrainian presidential office noted that one civilian was killed and at least four were injured in Russian attacks over the past 24 hours. The reported death occurred in Chornobaivka, located in the Kherson region, which sees daily fighting due to partial Russian control.
- Ukraine’s Observance of Christmas on December 25: For the first time, Ukraine officially celebrated Christmas on December 25, a shift from the traditional January 7 date observed by some Orthodox countries, including Russia. This change was made official when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed legislation in July moving the public holiday to align with the Western Christian calendar.
- Division in the Orthodox Christian Faith in Ukraine: The Orthodox Christian community in Ukraine is split between two churches. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which has long resisted the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church and was considered schismatic, received full recognition in 2018 from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the highest authority in Orthodoxy. In contrast, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, historically a branch of the Russian church, declared its autonomy from Moscow in 2022 following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. However, it continues to follow the same liturgical calendar as the Russian church and will celebrate Christmas on January 7.
The Associated Press has the story:
Ukraine shot down 28 Russian fighter jets & drones as the country officially marks Christmas
Newslooks- KYIV, Ukraine (AP)
Ukraine’s air force on Monday reported that it shot down two Russian fighter jets during the night along with two cruise missiles and 28 Shahed-type drones.
The report said the attacks were aimed at southern and central regions of Ukraine, but that no casualties were immediately known. It said that 31 drones were launched in all, but details of what the three that weren’t intercepted may have struck weren’t given.
A summary from the Ukrainian presidential office said that one civilian was killed and at least four wounded in Russian attacks over the previous 24 hours. The death occurred in the town of Chornobaivka in the Kherson region, which is partly under Russian control and experiences daily fighting.
Ukraine observed Christmas on Monday, the first time the country has officially marked the holiday on Dec. 25 rather than the Jan. 7 date followed by some Orthodox countries, including Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed legislation in July to move the public holiday’s date.
Ukraine is predominantly Orthodox Christian, but the faith is divided between two churches, one of which had long affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which didn’t recognize the authority of the Russian church and had been regarded as schismatic, was granted full recognition in 2018 by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Orthodoxy’s top authority.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was a branch of the Russian church, announced in 2022 after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war that it was breaking ties with Moscow and considered itself autonomous. However, its parishes continue to follow the same liturgical calendar as the Russian church and will observe Christmas on Jan. 7.
