Europe | Uncertain allegiance

Some liberated Ukrainian regions have mixed loyalties

In pro-Russian areas the country will have to win back hearts and minds

KUPIANSK, UKRAINE - JANUARY 6 : A Ukrainian soldiers helps a local get to church for Christmas eve Mass on January 6, 2023 in Kupiansk, Ukraine. Celebrating Orthodox Christmas with Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in the Kupiansk region, located 50 kilometers from the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine. The city was occupied by Russian forces from 27 February 2022 to 10 September 2022. Two percent of Kharkiv region is still occupied by Russian forces. Here, Ukrainian army soldiers are protecting the newly liberated territories in case of an attempt by Russian forces to return. On the evening of January 6, 2023, a Mass was held in the church village in Ukrainian religious tradition, with the remaining inhabitants of the village, then the soldiers organized a Christmas dinner among themselves and the next morning the Christmas Mass was held with Christmas carols and the blessing of the soldiers. (Photo by Gaelle Girbes/Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
|KUPIANSK

This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Uncertain allegiance”

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