A little dream in a dark time.

The lights of the Christmas tree installed in the center of kyiv make Ukrainians forget for a few moments the war raging in their country and the repeated bombardments of the Russian army on many Ukrainian cities.

Officials in the capital assured in front of the illuminated tree that they would not let Russia "steal" this Christmas from Ukrainian children.

Monday, however, began with a series of attacks on a set of critical infrastructure in kyiv.

But at the end of the day, an artificial tree 12 meters high was installed, symbolically decorated with doves of Peace and illuminated in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

At the top is the country's coat of arms, which depicts a gold trident.


Ukraine's main Christmas Tree in Kyiv lit up with blue and yellow.

Christmas means hope.

And Ukraine has one hope.

This is victory.

pic.twitter.com/ZqUdR475sf

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) December 17, 2022

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A few dozen residents braved the freezing cold to admire the tree - which adjoins kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral and its famous golden domes - and take selfies.

"The Russians are trying to deprive our citizens of a normal life, but we won't let them steal the biggest holidays - New Years and Christmas - from our children," the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said during the the inauguration of the tree.

"Tree of Invincibility"

kyiv City Hall was initially reluctant to install the tree, said the mayor, referring to attacks by Russian forces that caused power cuts and exhausted the Ukrainian electricity grid.

As a result, millions of people were left without electricity in the middle of winter.



In this context, the city has adapted.

The fairy tree lights are therefore powered by a diesel generator, and decorations from previous years are reused.

"We called it the 'Christmas tree of Ukrainian invincibility'," said Vitali Klitschko, stressing that everything was done "so that the children have a holiday despite the difficult times".

According to Orthodox tradition, Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on January 7, but polls show a growing number of people preferring to bring the date forward to December 25, in line with other churches.

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  • Kyiv (Kyiv)

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  • Christmas tree