Lights under fire

A glimpse of Ukraine’s Christmas season amid another winter of war

For the third year, Ukrainians are celebrating Christmas on December 25, together with the West. Last week, Moscow rejected a Christmas truce and continued its relentless strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and civilian population. After a massive and deadly overnight attack just two days before the holiday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia’s strikes “ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home and safe,” send “an extremely clear signal about Russia’s priorities.” With the full-scale war now in its fourth year, here’s a glimpse of Christmas preparations in a country still under fire.