With the end of the truce declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, all eyes are turning to the strategic city of Bakhmut, which Russian forces have been trying to seize for months, with the support of the militants of the Russian security "Wagner" group.
Shortly before the end of the armistice at midnight tonight, the sound of shelling resounded in the semi-deserted streets of Bakhmut, which is located in Donetsk Province (eastern Ukraine), and Kyiv accused Russian forces of not adhering to the armistice announced by Moscow unilaterally.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said - in a video speech - "They were saying something about a supposed ceasefire, but the truth is that Russian shells hit Bakhmut and other Ukrainian sites again."
And the Russian army confirmed - hours before the end of the truce announced by the Russian President for a period of 36 hours on the occasion of Christmas for Orthodox Christians - its commitment to the cease-fire, and said that it was satisfied with the duration of this truce by responding to the Ukrainian bombing.
Meanwhile, there were conflicting reports about a Russian advance in the city of Solidar, which is located near the city of Bakhmut.
The forces of the pro-Russian Luhansk region said that Ukrainian forces had received orders to withdraw from the city.
However, the Ukrainian army confirmed that Solidar is still under its control, and said that fighting continues in its vicinity in light of the use of heavy weapons by Russian forces.
Bakhmut and Solidar tunnels
The Russian forces seem determined to control the city of Bakhmut, which has suffered widespread destruction and was abandoned by most of its pre-war population of 70,000.
In this context, the founder of the Russian Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that he was looking forward to the Russian army and the group's fighters controlling Bakhmut.
Due to the "underground cities" it contains that accommodate fighters and tanks.
And Prigozhin mentioned - in statements via Telegram - that "(the most important gain) is the network of mines in Solidar and Bakhmut, which is in fact a network of underground cities, as it not only accommodates a large group of people at a depth of between 80 and 100 meters underground, but it is possible to Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles move in it.
Also for the Putin haters and trolls a happy christmas from Mr.
Putin pic.twitter.com/YYKPbLYbYj
- sonja van den ende (@SonjaEnde) January 7, 2023
Christmas message
On the other hand, the Russian president, in a message on the occasion of Christmas, praised the Russian Orthodox Church on Saturday for supporting his country's forces fighting in Ukraine.
The Kremlin issued the message after the Russian president attended the Orthodox Church's Christmas service alone inside a Kremlin cathedral instead of joining worshipers in a public ceremony.
Putin made it clear that he considered the Russian Orthodox Church an important force for stabilizing society at a time of "historic clash" between Russia and the West over Ukraine and other issues.
"I am pleased to note the huge constructive contribution made by the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations in Russia in order to unite society, preserve our historical memory, educate young people and strengthen the institution of the family," Putin said.
He stressed that church organizations "give priority to supporting our warriors participating in the special military operation (in Ukraine), and this great and selfless work deserves real respect."
Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, but the Russian Orthodox Church's support for the war in Ukraine has sparked anger among Orthodox Ukrainians and divided the Orthodox Church around the world.
Of the approximately 260 million Orthodox Christians in the world, about 100 million are in Russia.
There are about 30 million Orthodox in Ukraine divided between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, and two other Orthodox churches, one of which is the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.