Overview
- Speaking in a small chapel near Moscow, Putin told service members and their families that Russian soldiers fulfill a mission to defend the homeland.
- He linked the celebration of Christ’s birth and the idea of Jesus as savior to soldiers who he said come to “save” Russia.
- Reuters reported the speech on January 7, and FOCUS online published the quoted passage noting it was translated with the help of AI.
- A Kremlin video showed the Christmas gathering with children present as Putin delivered his message.
- An Orthodox theologian quoted by Krone.at criticized the religious framing, calling the comparison blasphemous.