First, links to articles from the Berkshire Eagle, the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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Kremlin tries to steal Ukraine’s Christmas, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle Silence the church bells! This was the order the Bolsheviks gave out one century ago. Competing for the hearts and minds of the Russian people, one million bronze bells were still ringing out after the fall of the Russian Empire. Sometimes called “singing icons,” bells summoned Orthodox faithful to baptisms, burials and Christmas services. By 1941, the communists had closed or destroyed 92 percent of Russia’s churches. In an echo of this not-so-distant past, Russian soldiers now . . . READ MORE . . .
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A Christmas without its traditional glow in Ukraine, by Hanna Arhirova | AP KYIV — Just a year ago, Sophia Square in Kyiv was all about the big Christmas tree and thousands of lights spreading over the plaza. These final days of 2022, a more modest tree stands there, its blue and yellow lights barely breaking the gloom of the square that is otherwise dark apart from the headlights of cars. In recent . . . READ MORE . . .
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Putin tells defence industry to up its game for Ukraine war, by Andrew Osborn | Reuters President Vladimir Putin, who has cast Russia’s war in Ukraine as part of an historic effort to push back against what he says is excessive Western influence over global affairs, made the comments Friday during a visit to Tula, a centre for arms manufacturing. “The most . . . READ MORE . . .
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Zelensky blasts Russian ‘terror’ after Kherson City shelled. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today blasted Russian “terror” after shelling on Christmas Eve left at least eight dead and 17 injured in Kherson city, which Kyiv’s forces recaptured in November. Despite Russia’s retreat from . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian forces obliterate almost 400 air defense systems in Ukraine op – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian Armed Forces have obliterated about 400 Ukrainian surface-to-air missile systems since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov said today. “In all, the following targets have been destroyed since the beginning of . . . READ MORE . . .
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How the Christmas tree became a symbol of national resistance in Ukraine. Reported by Julian Hayda | NPR How the Christmas tree became . . . Click HERE to listen.
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The light of Hanukkah shines in Ukraine. By Scott Simon | NPR Many have compared President Zelenskyy’s address to a joint session of Congress to the appearance Winston Churchill made 81 years ago. But I was reminded of when Churchill addressed the Canadian House of Commons a few days later. He said . . . READ MORE . . .
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MAY BE CONTINUED