“We condemn Russia’s brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer,” wrote U.S. senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in the statement published on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website.
“It bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity’s holiest days.”
The senators stressed that even during wartime there is a long tradition of Christmas ceasefires, citing the truce observed during World War I.
Putin’s decision to “launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted.”
“We stand with the people of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk marking the birth of Christ under the most challenging of circumstances. Ukrainians’ faith is a stronger force than the evil unleashed today by the Kremlin.”
On Christmas Day, a Russian drone hit a five-story apartment building Chernihiv, killing an 80-year-old woman and injuring eight others, including a child. Authorities also reported strikes on critical infrastructure.
Earlier, overnight attacks on Dec. 25 targeted port and industrial facilities in Odesa Oblast, killing one person and injuring two others.
In Kherson, Russian shelling on Christmas afternoon killed at least one civilian.