For the last three years, Russia and Ukraine have separately proposed a short truce over Christmas—but each attempt has unraveled, leading to further fighting on the holiday. Earlier this month, the ...

Instead of December festivities filled with Santa Claus and Christmas Eve stockings, Russians follow centuries-old Orthodox traditions that give the holiday a distinctive character. Here are some of ...

Moscow is preparing a "greyzone" attack on Poland before Christmas, a senior Russian military official has revealed. The warning, sent through an Eastern European ally during London's DSEI arms fair ...

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Wednesday condemned Russia’s killing of civilians in Ukraine on Christmas, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of rejecting a holiday ceasefire and instead ...

Pope Leo XIV made an appeal for “one full day of peace throughout the world” in a Christmas address outside Castel Gandolfo in Rome — and criticized Russia for refusing a holiday cease-fire. “I once ...

According to a government decree, the New Year holidays in 2025–2026 will last 12 days — from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to Sunday, January 11, 2026 TASS-FACTBOX. On December 31, 2025, Russia ...

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Russia and Ukraine to find the "courage" to hold direct talks and spoke of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza in his first Christmas message. The US pope, who was ...

MOSCOW, FACTBOX. /TASS/. On January 7, Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate one of the most important Christian holidays - Christmas. This date is traditionally regarded by Orthodox churches as the ...