It is day 12 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. Armies of both countries have been involved in intense fights since Russian troops entered Ukraine.

Attempts of evacuation in Mariupol fail as second temporary ceasefire violated

Pope Francis refers to Ukraine as a 'Martyr' country as he speaks briefly on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He also urged the warring parties to negotiate.

Pope Francis refers to Ukraine as a 'Martyr' country amid the ongoing Russian invasion

Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, global communities including Russian citizens have been protesting against the Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

Anti-war protest grows in Russia amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine

It is day 12 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. Armies of both countries have been involved in intense fights since Russian troops entered Ukraine. Ukraine President Zelensky said that Odessa is next on the target of Russia.

Ukraine President Zelensky: Russia to bombard Odessa

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is about to launch an international "plan of action" in his upcoming diplomatic meetings with Canadian, Dutch, and Central European leaders next week, to ensure Russia's invasion of Ukraine fails.

UK's response to Moscow's action: PM Boris Johnson lays out 6-point plan

Day 12 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: WION reports from the conflict zone

Day 12 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Shelling around the capital intensify

The United Nation has estimated that approximately 1.5 million Ukrainian citizens have been displaced during the country’s conflict with Russia. WION tells you more.

UN: Over 1.5 million Ukrainians fled the country so far amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Zelensky urges people to continue resistance as Russia builds military columns near Kyiv

The Russian Orthodox Church blesses rather than fires weapons. In doing so, it has emerged as a powerful weapon in its own right in President Vladimir Putin’s civilisationalist arsenal.

Mr. Putin justified his 12-day-old invasion of Ukraine in part by asserting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government had been preparing for the “destruction” of the &nbsp;Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Mr. Putin was referring to that part of the church that remained loyal to the Moscow Patriarch after the Ukrainian church in 2018 declared itself independent. Unwittingly, Mr. Putin may have been acknowledging that all may not be well in the church, at least from not from his perspective.

Choosing his words carefully, Metropolitan Onufry, the head of the pro-Moscow wing of the church, called for an end to the fighting.

“Forget mutual quarrels and misunderstandings and ... unite with love for God and our Motherland,” Mr. Onufry said.

The Metropolitan’s call contrasted starkly with maximalist remarks by the Moscow church’s patriarch, Archbishop Kirill, a staunch supporter of Mr. Putin. "When I say 'Russian,' I use the ancient expression from 'A Tale of Bygone Years – Where from has the Russian land come,' the land which now includes Russia and Ukraine and Belarus and other tribes and peoples,” the patriarch said.

In his war, Mr. Putin's notion of religious fault lines amounts to drawing a landscape in which much of the terrain is covered and out of sight.

Mr. Putin would have less of a problem with the repression becoming known of the pro-Kyiv wing of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in areas of Ukraine that Russia controls, including Crimea and the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

More problematic is the harassment and intimidation of the rapidly growing Evangelist community. If widely known in powerful Evangelist communities in the United States, it could undermine empathy for Mr. Putin as a conservative defender of family and traditional values.

“Moscow sees religion as a key front in the battle to control both Crimea and Donbas and to project influence into the rest of Ukraine,” said John E. Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine.

Similarly, largely unnoticed in the discussion about Ukraine are demographic concerns among Russian nationalists and the Orthodox church. Demographers predict that with birth rates declining among ethnic Russians and increasing among Muslims, Islam is on track to account for one-third of Russia's population by 2050.

“There won't be any Russians left in 2050,” warned Dimitri Smirnov, chairman of the church’s Patriarchal Commission on Family, Maternity and Childhood Protection. Asked by Govorit Moskva radio what the church could do to reverse the trend, Mr. Smirnov replied: “It’s too late.”

That may have been an exaggeration by the church's elite who enjoy many of the perks of being in Mr. Putin's circle, including feeding off the gravy train of hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds that have been designated for the restoration and maintenance of church properties and social work.

However, opposition to the church's course has been building among its rank and file, many of whom do not enjoy the leadership's perks. Lower-ranking priests have criticised prescribed sermons that warn against the perils of democracy, glorify Mr. Putin for restoring Russian pride, project Russian intervention in Syria as a mission to save Christians, and support Russian occupation of Ukrainian and Georgian lands.

Last week, 150 Russian Orthodox clerics called for an end to the war in an open letter.

“The church is closely tied to the current government. There is mounting hostility to its ruling class because of its ostentatious consumption, luxury, power, and repression. People feel that the church has become obsessed with earthly goods. This is risky because sooner or later, power will change hands,” said a Russian political scientist in an email exchange.

Risky as it may be, many in the Balkans fear that the church could help make Bosnia Herzegovina one of Mr. Putin's next targets should he subdue and maintain control of Ukraine.

“Russia sees the Balkans as NATO’s soft underbelly where they can foment chaos and create a mess,“ said Bosnian journalist and scholar Harun Karcic.

Noting that church support was a prerequisite for electoral success in countries like Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Macedonia, Mr. Karcic asserted that “whatever happens in Ukraine will not stop in Ukraine. Bosnia will likely be one of the next countries of interest.”

The journalist-scholar described Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the tripartite Bosnian presidency, as “a major Russian player who is a great supporter of the Russian Orthodox Church… Here we have a full Russian proxy who is a very public fan of the Russian Orthodox Church who effectively controls half of Bosnia.”

Last year, Mr. Dodik put Bosnia on tenterhooks, pulling Republika Srpska, the Serb constituent element of the country, out of key government institutions, including the military, the judiciary, and the tax administration. The move threatens to destabilize Bosnia, almost three decades after it was founded on the ashes of a bitter ethnic and sectarian war.

Mr. Dodik is in good company. Serbia itself has emerged as a potential monkey wrench in the Balkans by breaking with Europe and refusing to close its air space to Russian flights. Moreover, Air Serbia has doubled to 15 from seven the number of weekly flights it operates from Belgrade to Russia. 
 
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) &nbsp;&nbsp;

The Russian Orthodox Church blesses rather than fires weapons. In doing so, it has emerged as a powerful weapon in its own right in President Vladimir Putin’s civilisationalist arsenal.

The Russian Orthodox Church blesses rather than fires weapons. In doing so, it has emerged as a powerful weapon in its own right in President Vladimir Putin’s civilisationalist arsenal. Mr. Putin justified his 12-day-old invasion of Ukraine in part by asserting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government had been preparing for the “destruction” of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Mr. Putin was referring to that part of the church that remained loyal to the Moscow Patriarch after the Ukrainian church in 2018 declared itself independent. Unwittingly, Mr. Putin may have been acknowledging that all may not be well in the church, at least from not from his perspective. Choosing his words carefully, Metropolitan Onufry, the head of the pro-Moscow wing of the church, called for an end to the fighting. “Forget mutual quarrels and misunderstandings and ... unite with love for God and our Motherland,” Mr. Onufry said. The Metropolitan’s call contrasted starkly with maximalist remarks by the Moscow church’s patriarch, Archbishop Kirill, a staunch supporter of Mr. Putin. "When I say 'Russian,' I use the ancient expression from 'A Tale of Bygone Years – Where from has the Russian land come,' the land which now includes Russia and Ukraine and Belarus and other tribes and peoples,” the patriarch said. In his war, Mr. Putin's notion of religious fault lines amounts to drawing a landscape in which much of the terrain is covered and out of sight. Mr. Putin would have less of a problem with the repression becoming known of the pro-Kyiv wing of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in areas of Ukraine that Russia controls, including Crimea and the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. More problematic is the harassment and intimidation of the rapidly growing Evangelist community. If widely known in powerful Evangelist communities in the United States, it could undermine empathy for Mr. Putin as a conservative defender of family and traditional values. “Moscow sees religion as a key front in the battle to control both Crimea and Donbas and to project influence into the rest of Ukraine,” said John E. Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine. Similarly, largely unnoticed in the discussion about Ukraine are demographic concerns among Russian nationalists and the Orthodox church. Demographers predict that with birth rates declining among ethnic Russians and increasing among Muslims, Islam is on track to account for one-third of Russia's population by 2050. “There won't be any Russians left in 2050,” warned Dimitri Smirnov, chairman of the church’s Patriarchal Commission on Family, Maternity and Childhood Protection. Asked by Govorit Moskva radio what the church could do to reverse the trend, Mr. Smirnov replied: “It’s too late.” That may have been an exaggeration by the church's elite who enjoy many of the perks of being in Mr. Putin's circle, including feeding off the gravy train of hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds that have been designated for the restoration and maintenance of church properties and social work. However, opposition to the church's course has been building among its rank and file, many of whom do not enjoy the leadership's perks. Lower-ranking priests have criticised prescribed sermons that warn against the perils of democracy, glorify Mr. Putin for restoring Russian pride, project Russian intervention in Syria as a mission to save Christians, and support Russian occupation of Ukrainian and Georgian lands. Last week, 150 Russian Orthodox clerics called for an end to the war in an open letter. “The church is closely tied to the current government. There is mounting hostility to its ruling class because of its ostentatious consumption, luxury, power, and repression. People feel that the church has become obsessed with earthly goods. This is risky because sooner or later, power will change hands,” said a Russian political scientist in an email exchange. Risky as it may be, many in the Balkans fear that the church could help make Bosnia Herzegovina one of Mr. Putin's next targets should he subdue and maintain control of Ukraine. “Russia sees the Balkans as NATO’s soft underbelly where they can foment chaos and create a mess,“ said Bosnian journalist and scholar Harun Karcic. Noting that church support was a prerequisite for electoral success in countries like Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Macedonia, Mr. Karcic asserted that “whatever happens in Ukraine will not stop in Ukraine. Bosnia will likely be one of the next countries of interest.” The journalist-scholar described Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of the tripartite Bosnian presidency, as “a major Russian player who is a great supporter of the Russian Orthodox Church… Here we have a full Russian proxy who is a very public fan of the Russian Orthodox Church who effectively controls half of Bosnia.” Last year, Mr. Dodik put Bosnia on tenterhooks, pulling Republika Srpska, the Serb constituent element of the country, out of key government institutions, including the military, the judiciary, and the tax administration. The move threatens to destabilize Bosnia, almost three decades after it was founded on the ashes of a bitter ethnic and sectarian war. Mr. Dodik is in good company. Serbia itself has emerged as a potential monkey wrench in the Balkans by breaking with Europe and refusing to close its air space to Russian flights. Moreover, Air Serbia has doubled to 15 from seven the number of weekly flights it operates from Belgrade to Russia. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Russian societal tensions are mirrored in Putin’s Orthodox church

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Zelensky held a conversation with Indian PM Narendra Modi. The outreach came after requests from Kyiv. The duo also discussed evacuations.

Second call between Indian PM Modi & Ukraine President Zelensky to discuss evacuations

After 12 days of intense fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian Armies, Russia has declared a temporary ceasefire from 7 AM GMT to facilitate evacuations in Ukraine.

Russia calls for a temporary ceasefire from 7 AM GMT to facilitate evacuations in Ukraine

It is day 12 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. Armies of both countries have been involved in intense fights since Russian troops entered Ukraine. Now, Russia is enlisting Syrian fighters.

Russia enlists help of Syrian fighters in Ukraine

Now, according to reports, Russian military will hold fire and open humanitarian corridors in several Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv, at 7am. Russian defence ministry confirmed that they will hold a temporary ceasefire to facilitate evacuations in some areas in Ukraine.

Russia calls for a temporary ceasefire amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is a mass influx of people out of Ukraine due to the humanitarian situation, the number of refugees could grow to 1.5 million.

The plight of Ukrainians worsen: Almost 1.5 million people displaced amid Russian invasion

It is day 11 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. Armies of both countries have been involved in intense fights since Russian troops entered Ukraine. Russia has intensified attacks.

Ukrainians prepare for Russian assault as capital Kyiv turns fortress amid Russian invasion

Russian Invasion of Ukraine enters day 11 and protests around the world against Russian invasion has raged further. In the latest, Biden spoke to Ukraine President Zelensky.

Ukraine President Zelensky speaks to US President Biden to discuss security & financial aid

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israeli PM Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Moscow. The leaders discussed Ukraine crisis.

Israel PM Bennett holds talks with Russian President Putin & Ukraine President Zelensky amid crisis

After 10 days of intense fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian Armies, Russia had declared a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to help open humanitarian corridors. However, Kyiv says that Moscow has violated the temporary ceasefire.

Here's what expert has to say about Russian President Vladimir Putin's endgame in Ukraine

To ensure the safe evacuation of its citizens from war-torn Ukraine, India has launched a massive evacuation plan it's called operation Ganga under which several flights are flying out of Indian nationals out of Europe's evacuation centres.

Operation Ganga continues as India speeds up evacuation mission amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

To ensure the safe evacuation of its citizens from war-torn Ukraine, India has launched a massive evacuation plan it's called operation Ganga under which several flights are flying out of Indian nationals out of Europe's evacuation centres. Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi again spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi & Putin held 2 rounds of talks: Focus on the safety of Indian nationals in Ukraine

Ukrainians abandon their homes: Unmitigated humanitarian crisis unfolds

The ordeal of refugees: Ukraine refugees could grow to 1.5 million as the Russian invasion rages on

Israel PM Naftali Bennett & Russian President Vladimir Putin hold talks in Moscow on Ukraine crisis

Russia calls end of ceasefire: Evacuation suspended due to multiple ceasefire violations

Russia has taken over the southern city of Kherson, the largest in Ukraine to be captured by Russian forces so far. However, the unarmed civilians bravely protest against Russian occupiers.

Hundreds of civilians come out in Kherson to bravely protest against Russian occupiers

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine President Zelensky addressed anti-war rallies across the country virtually.

Ukraine President Zelensky speaks at anti-war rallies on day 11 of the Russian invasion

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israeli PM Naftali Bennett met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Kremlin. The leaders discussed Ukraine crisis.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Israeli PM Naftali Bennett meets Russian President Putin at Kremlin

It is day 11 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. Armies of both countries have been involved in intense fights since Russian troops entered Ukraine. Watch this report to know more about the situation in Lviv.

WION reports from the frontlines in Ukraine: Lviv residents produce Molotov cocktails

It is day 11 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. Armies of both countries have been involved in intense fights since Russian troops entered Ukraine. Russia has intensified attacks. In the latest, Ukraine shot down a Russian jet that sets ablaze several homes.

Reports: Ukraine shoots down Russian jet

PM Modi held second round of talks with Russian President Putin amid efforts to evacuate Indians

putin

Putin, News on Putin, stories on Putin, articles on Putin, Putin stories at Wion, Putin news, Putin latest news