The Kremlin: The ceasefire is over, continue fighting!

Reference News Network reported on January 8 that according to Reuters, local Ukrainian officials stated on the 8th that Russia’s bombing of eastern Ukraine the night before killed at least one person. Earlier, Moscow ended a self-declared Christmas ceasefire and vowed to continue fighting until it defeated Ukraine.

According to reports, Kharkiv Region Governor Oleg Sinekhobov said on the "Telegram" instant messaging application that a 50-year-old man died as a result of Russian shelling. The news broke a few minutes after midnight Moscow time.

According to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire along the contact line on the 6th to celebrate the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas on the 7th. Ukraine refuses a ceasefire and shelling continues on the front lines.

Putin attends Christmas service. Source: Kremlin website

The report mentioned that most Ukrainian Orthodox Christians traditionally celebrate Christmas on January 7, as do Russian Orthodox Christians. . But in 2022, Ukraine's largest Orthodox Church will also allow celebrations on December 25. Despite this, many people still choose to flock to churches on January 7 this year to celebrate.

The Kremlin said that Moscow will continue to promote special military operations in Ukraine. Sergey Kiriyenko, Putin's first deputy chief of staff, said: "The tasks set by the president for the special military operation must still be completed. And victory will definitely be achieved."

Extended reading

Russian-Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas ceasefire, can’t be done! Putin, it’s difficult

For Putin, the next step will be to face many difficulties

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The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Lille called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during the Orthodox Christmas period on January 5.

File photo of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill

After that, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian army will be deployed in "from 12:00 on January 6 to 24:00 on January 7 Special Military Operation" implemented a ceasefire along the Russia-Ukraine contact line and called on Ukraine to do the same.

But Ukrainian President Zelensky rejected this and said he doubted Russia’s motives.

U.S. President Biden made sarcastic remarks across the Atlantic - "Putin proposed a 36-hour ceasefire in an attempt to find a breathing space."

1

In Uncle Hai’s view, although Russia and Ukraine are countries deeply influenced by the Orthodox Church, even in the past long years, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, In Orthodox matters, it is also in charge of the Ukrainian diocese. In other words, Kirill called for a ceasefire, Putin complied, and Zelensky should do the same. However, since December 15, 2018, the Ukrainian Diocese announced the establishment of the "autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church" and elected Epifanius as Metropolitan of Kiev, which means that the Ukrainian Diocese no longer wants to accept Kirill's leadership.

On December 15, 2018, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church elected Epifanius as the Metropolitan of Kiev. The then Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attended the scene as an observer and spoke. File photo

After that , this move of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church also received a pardon from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, officially granting the status of an independent diocese to the "autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church".

However, even so, in the view of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the 12,000 churches under the jurisdiction of the "Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate" are still under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate.

But after Kirill called for a ceasefire on January 5, the Kyiv Diocese responded by immediately no longer recognizing the jurisdiction of Moscow and All-Russian Patriarch Kirill over all churches in Ukraine. . In other words, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will act completely independently of Moscow.

However, looking back at the Patriarch of Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey, as a religious leader, he basically has no jurisdiction over the Moscow Orthodox Church. It can't even save Hagia Sophia itself.

Back to the religious relationship between Moscow and Kiev - after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kiev still recognized Moscow's debt. In fact, it is also related to the fact that Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus are all East Slavic countries. At that time, these three countries were also the most closely related within the Commonwealth of Independent States. This also resulted in Russia agreeing that Crimea would continue to be held by Ukraine, and Ukraine agreeing to lease the Crimean military port to Russia. It's nothing more than brothers, you have me, and I have you.

2

But now, when Kirill announced a ceasefire, the Kiev church did not buy his account. Not to mention this, Zelenskiy issued a video speech on social media on January 5, saying that he did not think it was necessary to cease fire during the traditional holiday, and said that Russia "wanted to use Christmas as a cover" to prevent the Ukrainian army from launching a counterattack. And took the opportunity to transport equipment and ammunition.

On January 5, local time, Zelensky published a picture of Christmas greetings

Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian President’s Office, also posted on social media that only Russian troops have left Ukraine. Territory, only then can a "temporary truce" be possible.

Judging from the speeches of important figures in the Kiev authorities, Uncle Hai feels that Ukraine still believes that it is deeply influenced by the Orthodox Church. At least a blessing speech on Orthodox Christmas Eve. But on the other hand, they no longer recognize Russia, including the leadership of the Russian Church.

Then why does Moscow and the All-Russian Orthodox Patriarch still want a ceasefire, but Putin still does it?

In Uncle Hai’s view, there are three meanings -

1. Demonstration of jurisdiction in the religious field. Although Ukraine has not accepted the leadership of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia since 2018, and the Patriarch of Constantinople basically agreed to this "non-acceptance" in early 2019, for the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia First of all, it does not consider itself to be no longer the "leader" of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Kirill believed he could still dictate to the Church in Ukraine. On January 6, Kirill also delivered an Orthodox Christmas Eve sermon, saying that he opposed the split in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and prayed for the believers who were expelled from the Kiev Cave Monastery. In fact, the Patriarch of Constantinople itself has no actual control over Moscow. In Ukraine, not only in eastern Ukraine, but also in the whole of Ukraine, it is not ruled out that some church members believe that they should obey the orders of Moscow and the Patriarch of All Russia. This is why Kirill said that some people were kicked out of the Kiev Cave Monastery and One of the reasons to pray for.

File photo of Dmitry Polyansky, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations

2. Occupy the moral high ground. After Russia announced the ceasefire, at least the United Nations immediately affirmed it. In Uncle Hai's view, the United Nations will definitely affirm and welcome the ceasefire, and there is no possibility of other options. Does the United Nations still want to continue fighting without a ceasefire? Impossible! Regarding Ukraine’s unwillingness to cease fire, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Polyyansky immediately said on Twitter: “This once again reminds us who we are fighting in Ukraine – cruel nationalist criminals who are willing to fight for They sacrifice their own country and people for Western geopolitical games, and they have no respect for sacred things.” In this way, Russia hopes to define the Kiev authorities as anti-moral.

3. Arouse the anger of the Russian people, including the pro-Russian people in Donbas. Russia has ceased fire during the Orthodox Christmas period, but Ukraine dares not to cease fire? So should all of Russia fight against Ukraine with the same hatred? For the Russian authorities, who have just announced a new round of mobilization, such "popular sentiment" is what they urgently need.

3

The Russian war was indeed a bit miserable. For example, during the New Year's Eve period from 2022 to 2023, the Russian army's temporary garrison in Makeevka in Donetsk, a building that looked quite new and large, was fired by the Ukrainian army with a "Haimas" rocket launcher. 6 rounds of artillery shells were delivered. The Ukrainian army said it killed more than 400 people inside the building. Russia initially reported 63 deaths, but later said the death toll rose to 89, including deputy commander Lieutenant Colonel Bachiulin.

The initial report of RIA Novosti was "63 people died"

Why was the Russian military station attacked by Ukrainian "Haimas" at night? Judging from the Russian preliminary investigation report, the Russian army is simply making super low-level mistakes. Sending the new recruits who were recruited into the military camp after the mobilization order was not included in the front line, these recruits actually carried ordinary mobile phones and gathered in this building with an obvious target to hold a big welcome party.

Uncle Hai wants to say, this is not suicidal or seeking death, so what is it?

The ancient art of war also emphasized the rapid advancement of titles. In contemporary wars, radio silence or relevant mobile communication equipment management regulations are ignored. How can we fight this war?

The next thing the Russian army will face is that the Ukrainian army has obtained a lot of Western-made anti-tank weapons. The United States has even begun to provide "Bradley" infantry fighting vehicles, "Hummer" military vehicles, mine-resistant and anti-ambush vehicles, and a large number of missiles and ammunition.

What Germany sent were "Weasel" infantry fighting vehicles and US-made "Patriot" missiles.

On January 6, a nursing home in Kherson Prefecture was attacked by Ukrainian army artillery fire. Picture: Russian Sputnik News Agency

It can be said that what the Russian army is facing is no longer what it was a year ago. Weak Ukrainian forces. After all, Ukraine was once a country with a relatively high degree of industrialization, and its young people are generally well educated. Once they are armed and undergo systematic and high-intensity training, their combat effectiveness will increase quite quickly. After all, the Ukrainian army is fighting on its own soil. The Russian army currently recruits a large number of recruits from border areas such as the Far East. Regardless of whether they are Russian or not, and whether they are fluent in Russian, at least their level of education is not as high as that of urban soldiers. For Putin, the next step will be to face many difficulties