Latest news with #Sergiy
Kuwait Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Ukrainian soldiers, civilians doubt Putin's ceasefire order
Russia's truce order coincides with Moscow's Victory Day celebrations on May 9 KRAMATORSK, Ukraine: Near the front line in eastern Ukraine, soldier Sergiy struggled to contain his laughter when asked about a unilateral truce—ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin—that was supposed to be in force on Thursday. 'Has it started?' he said. For the 41-year-old Ukrainian soldier in the town of Kramatorsk, around 20 kilometers from the front line, Thursday was another typical day in a war that is now grinding through its fourth year. Putin said he was ordering his troops to halt all combat activity on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, to coincide with Moscow's Victory Day celebrations on May 9, marking the end of World War II. Kyiv has criticized the move as political theatrics designed to protect a major military parade on Moscow's Red Square, to be attended by more than 20 foreign leaders. It wants a full unconditional 30-day ceasefire—a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump but rejected by Putin. Kyiv's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga dismissed Putin's order as a 'farce', and said there had been hundreds of attempted Russian attacks since midnight, when the truce was supposed to have come into effect. Soldiers and civilians alike said reports of violations were not a surprise, having no faith that the Kremlin would abide by its own order to halt attacks, even for just three days. 'Nothing changed last night, there were still strikes,' said Andriy, a 50-year-old soldier waiting for his cappuccino in a cafe in Kramatorsk. Another soldier called Sergiy, a sergeant deployed near the town of Toretsk, which Russia claims to have captured, said Russian troops were still launching infantry attacks in small groups. 'Only there are no Russian planes in the sky for now,' he told AFP. 'There's no truce, there's medium-intensity fighting,' the commander of a drone unit deployed in the south and east told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Putin's Victory Day truce order is the second short-term ceasefire in the last month. Both countries agreed to halt fighting for 30 hours to mark Easter last month. Fighting on the front subsided and there were no aerial attacks on Ukraine during the period, though Kyiv and Moscow accused each other of thousands of individual violations. More than three years into the Russian invasion, which has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes, Ukrainians say they do not trust the Kremlin. 'There is no hope that they will keep their word,' said Victoria, a 43-year-old who works at a bank in Kramatorsk. In the capital Kyiv, the feeling was the same. 'When has Russia ever kept its promises?' asked Anatoly Pavlovych, 73. US efforts to push the sides to agree a broader ceasefire and start talks on a peace deal appear to have stalled. Washington has threatened to stop trying to mediate an end to the fighting and called for Moscow and Kyiv to engage in direct talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that such talks should take place once a longer-term ceasefire is already in place. Yuri, a 39-year-old soldier, told AFP that Ukraine did not have the capacity to win the war on the battlefield. 'We won't win physically. Only by pressure, pressure from all sides. We don't have enough people or resources,' he said. Zelensky has also conceded Ukraine will need to try to secure the return of some territory captured by Russia through diplomacy, not arms. But after more than three years of fighting there are no signs the two sides are close to agreeing a deal to halt the fighting. For Andriy, it is soldiers themselves who want the war to end more than anyone. 'Of course we are for peace,' he said. 'We want this most of all, because we know what death is.' – AFP
Russia Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Orthodox faith expected to grow in African state
The Orthodox faith will continue to grow in the Central African Republic (CAR), Father Sergiy Voemava has said. He shared plans for new churches and other facilities for Orthodox Christians in the region. Speaking to RT, the first Orthodox priest ordained as rector of the Church of St. Andrew in Bangui predicted that the church would establish a presence in all of the CAR's provinces within the next decade. 'Christians from the major provinces are calling and inviting the Orthodox Church to their provinces because they are interested in the Orthodox faith,' he said. Father Sergiy outlined ambitious goals for the local Orthodox community. Beyond building new churches, he said there is a pressing need for schools, particularly for orphans, transportation infrastructure, youth training centers, and medical facilities to serve Orthodox Christians. Despite facing challenges, he praised the efforts already made by the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and the Russian Orthodox Church, noting their contributions in building school facilities, delivering humanitarian aid, and providing food assistance to children in the CAR. 'Our expectations are vast,' he said, 'I believe that over time, and thanks to donations, our church will receive everything it needs to better serve the Lord.' The priest also shared his vision for the future of Orthodoxy in the country, as preparations are underway to build a larger and more spacious church for the growing community. He explained that two months ago, the Metropolitan of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa visited the CAR and held discussions with the country's president regarding the future of Orthodox Christianity. Africa's Orthodox Christian presence has expanded significantly in recent decades, with Orthodox believers now comprising about 15% of the global Orthodox population, according to data. Ethiopia leads the continent, hosting approximately 36 million Orthodox faithful – second only to Russia worldwide. On April 20, Russian Embassy staff in the CAR attended an Easter service at the Russian House Cultural and Educational Center in Bangui, led by priest Anatoly Slobodchikov. Around 100 people took part, including Russian Defense Ministry representatives, UN peacekeepers, instructors, and compatriots. The service ended with the blessing and sharing of Easter cakes and colored eggs.
