Millions of Ukrainians are celebrating Christmas for the first time in about a hundred years today in yet another distancing from Russia and trying to find at least some festive cheer amid continued attacks and separation from loved ones.
The sound of Christmas carols fills the Square of Angels, in the center of Lviv, where festively dressed locals have gathered to install a "diduj", a traditional Christmas decoration made from a sheaf of wheat.
This comes two weeks earlier than last year, following the decision of Ukraine's main churches to align their calendars with the rest of the Christian world. This ends the long period of isolation, which began after Ukraine failed a century ago to protect its independence from the Moscow-led Soviet Union.
"We have dreamed for a long time of celebrating Christmas together with the rest of the world. It feels natural, as it should be," Oksana Mazar, a local resident, explains to EFE.
Sad Christmas "Together with other Christians we ask Jesus to overcome the darkness that has brought so much evil into our lives, and for peace to come," adds Father Roman, military chaplain of the nearby Garrison Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul .
The church overlooks the recently named Plaza de los Ángeles and is where almost every day fallen Ukrainian soldiers receive a farewell ceremony before their burial.
"We try, as much as possible, to be close to their families, especially at this time," says Father Roman, who has also been traveling frequently to the front lines to provide spiritual support to the troops there.
Some of the soldiers are here too, on a short vacation of several days to see their families.
"They tell us that they are fighting precisely so that we can continue with our lives and experience the effects of war as little as possible," Mazar tells EFE.
Although everyone greets each other and wishes each other a Merry Christmas, they can't really be happy, he says, however. Mazar, co-founder of the Lviv Volunteer Kitchen, sells Christmas sweets made by civilian volunteers to raise funds for the preparation of dry food rations they have been sending to the front.
He dreams of victory, although he says the atmosphere is especially heavy this Christmas. "We are suffering so many losses, the war continues and we don't know when it will end," he explains.
"Some of us might feel festive, but we also remember well what price it comes with," underlines Mazar, who like many Ukrainians, wants Christmas to be peaceful, "without more bombings and losses."
Air alarms have been ringing in Ukraine as several cities have been attacked by Russia and fighting continues along the front line.
At least two Russian military planes were shot down on Christmas Eve, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. But there have been few occasions to celebrate in the trenches, where soldiers suffer in the cold and mud, apart from Russian attacks and concerns. due to delays in foreign military aid.
Since Christmas is usually spent within a close circle of family and friends, separation from loved ones is another source of pain for many.
"Return home safely because we are waiting for you!" writes civilian volunteer Tetiana Shabli in a common chat with her close friends on the front.
"They are saints, because there is no greater love than sacrificing your life for others," emphasizes Father Roman. "The fallen soldiers are like angels who protect us from heaven," says Andrí Sadovi, mayor of Lviv, who also participates in the ceremony in the Plaza de los Ángeles.
"Ukrainians are now carrying out a mission: to eliminate evil from the world. We believe in our victory and we will never give up," Sadovi tells EFE.
