Ucraina spune că forțele sale rezistă în orașul strategic Mariinka, după ce rușii au pretins că au cucerit localitatea
O fotografie din dronă arată ce a mai rămas din Mariinka, un oraș care a fost aproape complet distrus de invazia Rusiei asupra Ucrainei.
Rusia a declarat, pe 25 decembrie, că forțele sale au capturat orașul strategic Mariinka din regiunea Donețk, din estul Ucrainei, dar Kievul a contestat afirmația, raportând că trupele sale au respins trei „atacuri nereușite” în apropierea comunității ruinate și aproape pustie.
„Nu este corect să vorbim despre cucerirea localității Mariinka”, a declarat purtătorul de cuvânt al armatei ucrainene, Oleksandr Ștupun, la televiziunea ucraineană, în urma afirmațiilor făcute de ministrul rus al Apărării, Serghei Șoigu, în timpul unei întâlniri televizate cu președintele Vladimir Putin.
„Lupta pentru Mariinka continuă”, a spus Ștupun. „În prezent, militarii noștri se află între granițele administrative ale Mariinka, dar orașul a fost complet distrus”, a adăugat el.
Mariinka este un oraș relativ mic, cu o populație de dinainte de război sub 10.000 de locuitori, dar armata rusă a căutat să-l captureze pentru a avansa mai spre vest și pentru a proteja mai bine orașul ocupat Donețk.
Luptele au avut loc și în ziua de Crăciun, pe 25 decembrie, fiind pentru prima dată când Ucraina a sărbătorit acum Nașterea Domnului, în loc de 7 ianuarie.
Președintele Volodimir Zelenski a semnat în iulie o lege prin care sărbătoarea oficială a fost mutată pe 25 decembrie într-un gest de desprindere totală de Moscova.
Prin această lege, Ucraina a vrut „abandonarea moștenirii ruse”, în urma deciziei Moscovei de a o invada în februarie 2022.
Schimbarea îi aduce pe credincioșii ortodocși din Ucraina în concordanță cu catolicii din țară, care la începutul acestui an au aprobat o modificare similară a calendarelor.
Frontline Ukrainian Troops Celebrate First Christmas According To Western Calendar
1/8Ukrainian soldiers receive a blessing during Christmas Eve mass on December 24 near the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region.
Kyiv is defying Moscow as it celebrates Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of on January 7, the day observed by the Russian Orthodox Church.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
2/8The service was attended by Ukraine's 4th Ivan Vyhovskiy Separate Tank Brigade and local worshipers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a law in July moving the official Christmas Day holiday to December 25.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
3/8A traditional Christmas Eve dinner is prepared by Ukrainian service members on December 24.
The change brings Ukraine's Orthodox believers in line with the country's Catholics, who earlier this year approved a similar change in calendars.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
4/8Soldiers enjoy their Christmas Eve dinner, and a brief break in action, before heading out and taking up positions.
The tank unit had little time to celebrate as fighting continues to rage in the region.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
5/8Ukrainian soldiers board 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer before it moves into a firing position.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
6/8A soldier peers above his hatch on the Gvozdika as his unit prepares for action.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
7/8Ukrainian service members fire the 2S1 self-propelled howitzer at Russian positions near the front line town of Kupyansk on Christmas Eve.
According to the Ukrainian military, 66 combat clashes took place between Ukrainian forces and the invading Russian Army over the past 24 hours.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
8/8A cloud of smoke emanates from the gun after a shell is launched toward Russian positions.
As Kyiv's forces fight on the front line on December 24 in the Kharkiv region, soldiers took time to celebrate Christmas according to the Western Calendar. Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas for the first time on December 25 instead of the January date more closely linked to Russia.
