(25 Dec 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv, Ukraine - 25 December 2023
1. Various of Christmas church service at Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine.
2. Melania, hugs her father Yevhen Konyk.
3. SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian) Yevhen Konyk, 44, serviceman of 112 brigade, father of four children:
“Service (in the army) affects everything, that is, what time we spend, where we spend (our time), with whom. And, indeed, while you serve, you value time, that you spend with the family, you value time, when we have a peaceful sky, when we could communicate freely, be together. You value it differently, worldview and outlook changes a little bit, you start to feel happy during even small things that are in our lives. “
4. Wide of Yevhen Konyk kisses his wife while posing for a photo with his family.
5. Wide of members of Vertep (Ukrainian Christmas theatre) pose for a picture, while celebrating Christmas.
6. Various shots of members of Vertep sing, while celebrating Christmas.
7. SOUNDBITE, (Ukrainian) Oksana Poviakel, Director, Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine:
“The holiday could be celebrated, and the holiday could be marked. Essentially, already, for a second year we are marking our holidays, we don’t celebrate them. We would celebrate them after the victory, but we must mark and remember them, because it is that, which keeps us going: our tradition, our language, and our land. “
8. Various shots of members of Vertep (Ukrainian Christmas theater) sing, while celebrating Christmas near church.
9. SOUNDBITE: (Ukrainian) Yevhen Nyshchuk, 51, former Minister of Culture of Ukraine, serviceman:
“Definitely, this is an important moment of return to the true history. Ultimately, unification of the entire European and world family, because almost the whole world and Europe celebrates Christmas on 25th of December. For us it's a n important moment of unity of spirit in this difficult, trial time of the war.
10. Wide of Nyshchuk, posing for a picture, while celebrating Christmas.
11. Wide of man walking with his daughter at Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine.
12. Close up of Christmas stars.
13. Wide of the Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine
STORYLINE:
For the first time, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is observing Christmas on December 25 instead of January 7th.
Many Ukrainians have embraced the change with enthusiasm, viewing it as a positive step that will further strengthen their cultural separation from Russia.
“It’s historical justice,” said Yevhen Konyk, a 44-year-old serviceman who, along with his family, participated in traditional celebrations at the open-air museum in Kyiv.
“Ultimately, unification of the entire European and world family, because almost the whole world and Europe celebrates Christmas on 25th of December. For us it's an important moment of unity of spirit in this difficult, trial time of the war."
Konyk, who serves in Kyiv, said he is hopeful of victory next year but noted the dire situation on the frontline.
Oksana Poviakel, the director of the Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine, where the celebrations of Christmas took place, said that celebrating on Dec. 25 is “another important factor of self-identification.”
“We are separating ourselves from the neighbour who is currently trying to destroy our state, who is killing our people, destroying our homes, and burning our land,” she said.
People came today to the open-air museum in Kyiv to spend time with their families and mark Christmas on the 25th of December.
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