Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Christmas greetings to Orthodox Christians, emphasizing the importance of family traditions and the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in uniting people. On January 7,

Vladimir Putin has marked Russian Orthodox Christmas by attending church in Moscow alongside fighters in his war against Ukraine and their families - despite being responsible for hundreds of thousands killed.

Russia's invasion, which began in February 2022, has also been a source of religious controversy within the Eastern Orthodox Church and has driven a split among believers in both Russia and Ukraine.Vi

Since the start of his "special military operation" in February 2022, Putin has turned to religion and closed ranks with the head of the Orthodox Church to call out what he sees as the decline of Western morality.

The patriarch of Russia's Orthodox Church, celebrating Christmas alongside Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday that the Western world despised Russia and its "alternative path of civilised development".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent special Christmas gifts to commanders deployed in Ukraine, intended to salute their bravery and boost their morale. On Orthodox Christmas Day, Putin met with Patriarch Kirill,