Reuters. People gathered at Sophia Square in Kyiv on Monday (December 19) to see the lighting of the Christmas tree, saying Russia will not take away their holidays.
"We decided that we will not give a chance to steal such a beautiful holiday as St. Nicholas Day from our children,” Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko told Reuters.
Kyiv resident, 26, Andrii Dehtiar, said the Christmas tree is a small piece of joy for Ukrainian people.
“It is powered by a generator, which shows us all that the war continues, that there are power cuts. But the Russians will not be able to take away our holiday,” Dehtiar added.
The vast space in front of the centuries-old St. Sophia Cathedral is traditionally anchored by a large evergreen at Christmas.
However, this year officials opted for a 12-metre (40-foot) artificial tree festooned with energy-saving lights powered by a generator.
Russia hit key energy infrastructure in and around Kyiv in a "kamikaze" drone attack on Monday.
No casualties were reported as a result of the drone strikes, according to Ukraine's armed forces, although nine buildings were damaged in the Kyiv region.
