Russian President Vladimir Putin attended an Easter service at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow on Sunday. Putin, who is currently waging a war on Ukraine, admitted that he is facing "serious challenges" in his fight against Ukraine. He praised the Russian Orthodox Church for being involved in charity work and providing spiritual support to the people in the face of these challenges.
Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and dark purple tie, Putin stood to one side holding a lit red candle during the service. Live images of the midnight service showed him crossing himself several times during the ceremony known as the Divine Liturgy. He also joined other members of the congregation in the response "Truly he is risen" when Patriarch Kirill announced "Christ has risen." Putin did not speak otherwise during the ceremony.
The Russian Orthodox Church has strongly supported Putin's decision to invade Ukraine, causing a rift in the worldwide Orthodox Church. Kirill's statements supporting the invasion have been criticized by Kyiv and Western nations, who view it as an act of aggression. However, Putin has praised the church for supporting Moscow's forces fighting in Ukraine in an Orthodox Christmas message earlier this year.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is feared to have already killed more than 200,000 people. Despite international pressure to end the war, Putin has continued to assert his military and political influence over Ukraine.