People visit the Christmas market on Sofiivska Square in central Kyiv on Dec. 27, 2021. The two men are dressed as Saint Nicholas, or Svyaty Mykolay, the Ukrainian alternative to Santa Claus. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
Despite the double threat of a looming Russian invasion and the new variant of Covid-19 virus, Omicron, Kyivans are making the most of the holiday season with the city’s Christmas markets.
People visit the Christmas Fair on Kontraktova Square on Dec. 27. Kontraktova Square and Sofiivska Square are the two main Christmas locations in Kyiv. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)Visitors of the Christmas Fair on Sofiivska Square in central Kyiv check out one of the mulled wine stalls on Dec. 27, 2021. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
Like every year, Kyiv's two main Christmas markets are open on Sofiivska Square in the heart of Kyiv and Kontraktova Square in the Podil area.
People enjoy mulled wine by the fire at the Christmas Fair on Kontraktova Square in Kyiv on Dec. 27, 2021. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
The markets offer a variety of mulled wine and grilled food, as well as entertainment in the form of carol singers and actors dressed as Saint Nicholas, or Svaty Mykolay, the Ukrainian alternative to Santa Claus.
People pose for a photo at the Christmas Fair on Sofiivska Square in Kyiv on Dec. 27, 2021. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
Kyiv's main Christmas tree stands over Sofiivska Square, where it's stood every year since 2014.
A woman poses for a photo at the Christmas Fair on Kontraktova Square in Kyiv on Dec. 27, 2021. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
Before that, the Christmas tree used to be installed on the Independence Square.
Mulled wine sold at the Christmas Fair on Sofiivska Square on Dec. 27, 2021. Mulled wine is a popular drink at Ukrainian Christmas markets, with vendors usually offering a variety of tastes. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
After the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, that happened largely in the Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), the city authorities started putting up the annual Christmas tree in the nearby Sofiivska Square.
People skate on the rink at the Christmas Fair on Sofiivska Square in central Kyiv on Dec. 27, 2021. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)People visit the Christmas Fair on Sofiivska Square in Kyiv on Dec. 27, 2021. The square is hosting the city's main Christmas tree. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
The Christmas market on Sofiivska Square will be open through Jan. 16, on Kontraktova Square — through Jan. 22.
Kyiv's main Christmas tree was placed on Sofiivska Square, as it has been since 2014. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
"The increase in enemy losses is one of the results of the corps reform," read Syrskyi's quote in the post on the Ukrainian General Staff's Facebook page.
"We recognize that a peaceful settlement in Ukraine must take into account Ukraine's security interests, but the key importance, of course, is Russia's security interests," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Feb. 10.
Pope Leo XIV has sent 80 generators along with medical and food supplies to Ukraine to help civilians cope with freezing winter temperatures and constant attacks, the Vatican said on Feb. 9.
Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych said on Feb. 10 that he has been barred from using a custom helmet at the 2026 Winter Olympics that honors Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's war.
The number of complaints has increased 333 times since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets.
The vessel is part of the "shadow fleet," a group of tankers used by Moscow to export oil in violation of international sanctions, according to Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR).
Russia launched its worst-ever attack on Ukraine's nuclear-connected substations on Feb. 7, cutting the volume of electricity generated by the country's nuclear power by around 50%, Vitaliy Zaichenko, CEO of Ukrenergo, the state grid operator, told the Kyiv Independent.
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