Putin Praises Russian Servicemen’s “Sacred Duty” During Orthodox Christmas Liturgy

Written with experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, this report provides a clear and contextual account of President Vladimir putin’s Orthodox Christmas address amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on early Wednesday praised the country’s servicemen for what he described as a “holy mission” to defend Russia, delivering his remarks during an Orthodox Christmas service that underscored the close alignment between religious imagery and the Kremlin’s wartime messaging.

The service came as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its fourth year, a conflict the Kremlin continues to frame as an existential struggle for national survival. In recent months, Russian authorities have increasingly relied on religious, historical, and patriotic symbolism to justify the prolonged military campaign.

Although Orthodox Christmas services traditionally begin around midnight and draw large public gatherings, Putin has often attended smaller, more controlled celebrations in recent years. On this occasion, he participated in a service at Moscow’s St. George the Victory Bearer Church, a venue closely associated with Russia’s military tradition.

Video footage released by the Kremlin showed Putin standing solemnly in a dark suit without a tie, surrounded by uniformed servicemen, their wives, and children, as priests conducted the liturgy. The carefully choreographed setting highlighted the link between faith, family, and the armed forces.

Following the ceremony, Putin addressed those present, declaring that Russian soldiers have historically carried out their duty “as if at the Lord’s behest,” protecting the Fatherland and safeguarding the Russian people.

“Russia’s warriors have always fulfilled this mission — defending the Motherland and its people, saving the country in the most difficult moments of history,” Putin said, reinforcing the idea of military service as a sacred responsibility rather than a political decision.

“At all times in Russia, our people have regarded their warriors as those who, as if guided by the will of the Lord, carry out this holy mission,” he added.

In a separate Christmas message published earlier on the Kremlin’s official website, Putin also praised the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations for their role in strengthening social unity and preserving the nation’s historical and Cultural Heritage.

According to Putin, religious organizations play a vital role in promoting compassion and mercy, supporting vulnerable communities, and providing assistance to soldiers and veterans involved in what Moscow continues to describe as a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

“Such significant, responsible, and in-demand work deserves the most sincere recognition,” the Russian president said, acknowledging the church’s involvement in social and wartime support efforts.

Since first assuming power in 2000, Putin has often marked Orthodox Christmas outside Moscow, including visits to regional churches and monasteries. However, since the outbreak of the Ukraine War, he has increasingly chosen to observe the holiday closer to the capital.

In recent years, Christmas services have frequently been held at or near Novo-Ogaryovo, Putin’s state residence outside Moscow, reflecting heightened security concerns and the centralization of official events during wartime.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues with no clear resolution in sight, Putin’s Christmas remarks underscore how religion remains a key element of the Kremlin’s narrative – one that seeks to frame the war not only as a geopolitical struggle, but as a moral and spiritual mission tied to Russia’s identity and history.