Russia has launched attacks across Ukraine, killing at least two civilians, violating a unilateral, self-declared truce for Saturday’s Orthodox Christmas celebrations.
The attacks came as the US announced it would provide Ukraine with more arms and other aid worth $3.75 billion.
Washington also urged Italy to provide air defense systems to Ukraine during a talk between two senior advisers, La Repubblica newspaper reported.
The new vehicles, along with a similar shipment from Germany and Patriot air-defense missiles from both countries, represent a show of Western unity with Kyiv amid speculation Moscow is planning a new mobilization to expand the ranks of the invading army.
Ukraine has said it needs air defenses to protect Russia’s targeted civilian infrastructure and more military aid to breach Russia’s fortified frontline positions. Senior officials said they need 600 to 700 infantry fighting vehicles and 300 tanks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed US aid as “exactly what is needed” as fighting raged across the country. Some of the fiercest fighting took place around the town of Kremina in Lugansk, Britain’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
Coniferous forest provides cover there even in winter, so “both sides will most likely have difficulty timing artillery fire accurately”.
The pressure in the region is likely part of Russia’s efforts to take the eastern city of Bakhmut, which were thwarted by Ukrainian forces.
Fighting has destroyed much of the city and claimed many lives, most recently a 66-year-old man and 61-year-old woman killed by shelling; 13 others were injured.
The Ukrainian government had dismissed the unilateral ceasefire as a cynical move by the Kremlin after heavy attacks during celebrations on December 25 and over the New Year holiday, which is so important in Ukraine.
The Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol in Crimea said air defenses shot down a Ukrainian drone that appeared to be trying to attack the port.
In Kyiv, priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held an iconic Ukrainian-language Orthodox Christmas service at the 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra Monastery, one of the city’s most important religious sites.
The cathedral and monastery complex overlooking the right bank of the Dnieper has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries.
As of Thursday, it was under the control of the pro-Moscow Orthodox Church, whose priests across Ukraine are widely suspected of harboring pro-Kremlin sympathies.
The Ukrainian government took over the administration of the complex and allowed the Ukrainian church to use it for the Orthodox Christmas service.
It was the first time in 31 years of Ukraine’s independence that a service was held there in the Ukrainian language, and soldiers in national uniforms also sang well-known Ukrainian Christmas carols.
“It’s a first victory” for Ukraine, said Oksana Abu-Akel, who hailed it as a significant step in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s effort to sever ties with Russia after it started the war more than 10 months ago .
“This is the first time in 300 years that there really is a dedicated service here. Everyone feels this joy. It’s a victory for all Ukrainians,” she told the Associated Press.