Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described how children now wish for their fathers to come home from the frontline, rather than work, at Christmas.
Issuing his Christmas message to the nation, he described how the season has changed in wartime.
He highlighted how important it was that loved ones were around the table, not what dishes were on it.
Ukrainians rejoice at seeing the first Christmas Eve star instead of enemy missiles, he said.
“How joyously and sonorously sound the hundreds of our carols, and just three words: ‘air raid over’,” he said.
Fathers, husbands, brothers and grandfathers were spending Christmas Eve “in the trenches with weapons in their hands, facing the enemy,” he said.
“As we defend our land and our souls, we are making our way to freedom. The way to gaining comprehensive independence, including [a] spiritual one.
“Freedom of our faith from the ideology of slavery. From a cult that has nothing human or sacred within it.
“One that brings violence, aggression, hatred. One that takes away security and peace, takes away other people’s lands and human lives. Yet one that will be defeated. By the power of faith, the power of truth, the power of law, the power of justice, the power of our Ukraine.”
Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is praying together for “the day when we can all come together at home in a peaceful year of peaceful Christmas”.
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