The Ukraine War Goes On: Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev had harsh words for Ukraine’s leaders and the Western governments that support Kyiv, stating, “pigs have no faith,” after Ukraine made clear it would not honor Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s 36-hour unilateral ceasefire, which was set to begin on Friday for the Orthodox Christmas.
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Ukraine rejected it saying Moscow would use the truce as an opportunity to reinforce troop positions.
The fighting has continued and officials on both sides have accused the other of opening fire in several areas in the Eastern Donbas region, even as Russia’s Ministry of Defense insisted it was observing a truce along the entire “line of contact” that began at 12:00 Moscow time (9:00 GMT) on Friday.
Moscow blamed Kyiv for continuing to shell Russian positions as well as settlements in occupied Ukraine, breaking the ceasefire.
Ukraine Not Having It
However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the truce was simply an attempt by Russia to stop his country’s military advances in the east of the country and was a ploy to allow the Kremlin to bring in more men and equipment.
“Now they want to use Christmas as a cover to stop the advance of our guys in the Donbas for a while and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized people closer to our positions,” Zelensky said late Thursday. “Everyone in the world knows how the Kremlin uses lulls in the war to continue the war with new force.”
Washington has been as skeptical.
President Joe Biden also told reporters Thursday Putin had been willing to bomb “hospitals, nurseries and churches” on December 25 and again on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
“I think he’s trying to find some oxygen,” Biden suggested.
“We believe this is a cynical ploy, so that the Russians can use a bit of time … to regroup and ultimately to re-attack with potentially even more vengeance, even more brutality, even more lethality if they had their way,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told a press briefing Thursday.
Russian Response
Though Putin hasn’t responded to the failed attempts at an Orthodox Christmas Truce, Medvedev went on a verbal offensive.
“A hand of Christian mercy was extended to the Ukrainians on the great holiday,” the Russian politician, and former president, wrote on his Telegram channel on Friday. “(Kyiv’s) leaders rejected it. I think most of our servicemen participating in the Special Military Operation breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the main Ukrainian clowns’ refusal to cease fire for Christmas. Less trouble and deceit.”
Medvedev further suggested that still he felt sorry for the Ukrainian people who may have been deprived of the opportunity to attend church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He then stated, “But pigs have no faith and no innate sense of gratitude. They understand only brute force and squealingly demand grub from the owners.”
Medvedev also slung insults at European politicians who did not appreciate Putin’s Ukraine proposal.
No Christmas Truce in Ukraine
Though Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7, according to the Julian calendar, many Ukrainians have opted to follow the Gregorian calendar and mark the occasion on December 25. And while both days are public holidays in the country, for the first time, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine said it would allow its congregations to celebrate Christmas on the earlier date.
Even though Ukraine will not honor an Orthodox Christmas Truce this year, Washington has provided Kyiv with a much-needed present – namely fifty M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
Author Experience and Expertise: A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
