Russian President Vladimir Putin described the actions of Russian soldiers as a sacred mission akin to that of Jesus Christ while celebrating the Orthodox Christmas holiday on Wednesday.
Putin participated in a midnight Christmas service at the Church of St. George the Victorious, located in the Moscow region, alongside military personnel and their families, according to the Kremlin.
“Today we commemorate the joyous and significant holiday of Christ’s Nativity,” Putin stated briefly after the service, as noted in a Kremlin transcript.
“We often refer to the Lord as the Savior for He came to Earth to save humanity. Similarly, Russian soldiers have always fulfilled this role — protecting the homeland and safeguarding its people,” he explained.
He remarked that historically, soldiers in Russia have been regarded as individuals on a “sacred mission” serving on behalf of God, “as if entrusted by the Lord himself.”
Attending the midnight Orthodox Christmas service alongside military members, Putin has remained quiet regarding the displacement of his Venezuelan ally Nicolás Maduro.
Furthermore, Putin spoke to the children of military personnel, affirming that they should take pride in their parents, as Russians have “always” held their soldiers in high esteem. He noted that the joy of Christmas was felt by all Russian troops, regardless of their religious beliefs.
“We celebrate alongside them during their holidays, just as we commemorate our shared victories together,” Putin remarked. “As we know, victory is a collective 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 speeches.
In his New Year’s message last week, he reiterated the importance of the military, stating that “millions” of Russians are supporting those engaged in what Moscow refers to as its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“The strength of our unity is what ensures the sovereignty and security of the Fatherland, as well as its progress and future,” he added, suggesting that “the work, successes, and achievements of each individual contribute new chapters to [Russia’s] thousand-year history.”
Western estimates indicate that Russia has endured hundreds of thousands of military casualties, while Ukraine has experienced tens of thousands of soldier losses during the conflict.
Indigenous groups from Russia’s diverse regions and ethnic republics have disproportionately shouldered the burden of military enlistment.
The United Nations has reported over 14,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine throughout the nearly four-year conflict and has accused Russia of committing crimes against humanity against Ukrainian civilians.
