Multiple fatalities
Ukraine war: Russian attacks despite Orthodox Easter – while Putin praises the church
In Ukraine, despite the Orthodox Easter celebrations, there have been attacks.
© Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
It is the second Orthodox Easter celebrated during the Ukraine war. And the attacks from the Russian side continue anyway. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin delivers his Easter speech.
The second Orthodox Easter since the beginning of the war is being celebrated in Ukraine. Regardless, the fighting continues. Two teenagers were killed by Russian fire at night in the southern region of Mykolayiv, said the local military governor Vitaly Kim on Sunday.
In the Zaporizhia region, too, the head of the military administration, Yuriy Malashko, reported a “massive attack” by the Russians. A church was damaged, for example, so that the service had to be canceled. “Nothing is sacred, even on the night of Christ’s resurrection,” Malashko wrote.
In the eastern city of Sloviansk, where a rocket hit a residential area on Friday, rescue work continued. Residents were still missing in the rubble, local officials said. According to the latest information, eleven civilians were killed in the attack, including a small child. According to Ukrainian sources, more than 20 other people were injured.
Vladimir Putin praises the Orthodox Church
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated in Moscow’s famous Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Together with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the head of the Kremlin attended a service of the Russian Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Kirill, on Sunday night. Photos and videos show Putin and Sobyanin standing next to each other with candles in their hands. Kirill also presented Putin with a decorated art Easter egg.
A little later, the Kremlin published this year’s Easter message. Accordingly, the 70-year-old, against whom an arrest warrant has now been issued at the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, said: “The wonderful, beloved Easter gives believers hope, inspires good thoughts and deeds and serves to raise high moral standards in society to affirm ideals and values.”
Putin also praised the Russian Orthodox Church, which “in the face of serious challenges is actively involved in matters of mercy and charity”. Church leader Kirill is internationally regarded above all as a fervent supporter of Putin’s war – and has repeatedly defended it in the past, among other things in sermons.
Baerbock promotes more “determination”
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is campaigning for further support in view of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Before the meeting of the G7 foreign ministers in Karuizawa, Japan, Baerbock announced that he would further specify the group of states’ joint support for Ukraine. “At the meeting in Japan, we will sharpen our commitment,” said Baerbock on Sunday, according to the Federal Foreign Office, before leaving Seoul. It is now a question of showing Russian President Vladimir Putin the “determination” of the group of states.
It is important to show Putin “that he will not achieve his goals through wear and tear,” said Barbock. With the support of the G7, Ukraine has so far “withstood Russia’s energy war and the winter offensive.”
In the past year, the G7 have countered Russia’s aggression “one barrier after the other” “as a crisis team in continuous action”, said the minister, referring to the winter aid for the people of Ukraine, the sanctions imposed on Moscow and the Oil price cap for Russian exports on the world market.
On Sunday, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries will meet in the Japanese city of Karuizawa, northeast of Tokyo, including Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens). The meeting will focus on various geopolitical and security policy issues, including the relationship with China, climate protection, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
China’s role in the conflict, which has been criticized by the West for being too pro-Russian, is also likely to play an important role in the talks. Baerbock accused Beijing on Saturday of wanting to create “its own rules” in world politics. The G7 countries include Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA and the UK.