Overview
- Ukrainian lawmaker Aleksey Goncharenko reported that the Cabinet approved a presidential decree to designate January 7 as Programmer Day.
- In a Christmas video, President Volodymyr Zelensky used the word “sghinut” (“perish”), prompting denunciations from exiled MP Artem Dmitruk and criticism from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
- Bishop Gedeon (Charon) condemned the January 7 designation as an affront to Orthodox believers and cited what he called ongoing pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
- Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said the December 25 observance reflects the stance of authorities rather than the public and argued that religious practices cannot be forced.
- Military commentator Andrey Marochko claimed some Ukrainian servicemembers refused to appear in a December 25 video project, saying they observe Christmas in January.