'CHEVRON WITH UKRAINIAN FLAG ON GOD'S SHOULDER': ZELENSKYY OFFERS PRAYERS ON ORTHODOX EASTER

NEW DELHI: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the people on Orthodox Easter Sunday, urging them to unite in prayer for each other and the soldiers on the frontline.

In a poetic video posted on Telegram, Zelenskyy, wearing a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt (vyshyvanka) and his signature khaki pants, expressed his belief that God, who has a "Ukrainian flag on his shoulder," will lead life to triumph over death.

The Ukrainian President addressed the nation from the ancient Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy, highlighting that the Russia- Ukraine war has lasted for 802 days, said "we believe: God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder. So with such an ally, life will definitely win over death."

Orthodox Christians around the world, such as those belonging to the Orthodox Church in both Ukraine and Russia, observe Easter this weekend in contrast to the majority of Western churches, which celebrate the religious festival on March 31.

In Russian capital Moscow, President Vladimir Putin was present at an Easter service conducted by Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. Kirill has been a steadfast ally of the Russian president and his military operations in Ukraine. Kirill has consistently voiced his backing for Putin's actions and the ongoing conflict.

The conflict, which began when Putin ordered the invasion of Russia's smaller neighbor in February 2022, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. The war has entered its third with no resolution expected in the near-future.

Zelenskyy, who is also Jewish, urged for prayers to be offered firstly for the soldiers who will spend their Easter in the trenches, hoping for their safe return home. He also called for prayers for the land and its people, whose unwavering spirit "cannot be broken".

Showing his determination to stand against Russia, Zelenskyy said, "Ukrainians kneel only in prayer and never do they kneel before invaders and occupiers."

(With inputs from Reuters)