West wants to tear Russia apart: Putin

MoscoW: An increasingly desperate Vladimir Putin has blasted the West for trying to “tear apart” Russia and said in an interview aired on national television that his illegal invasion of Ukraine aimed to “unite the Russian people”.

Meanwhile in Kyiv, a day after deadly shelling in southern Ukraine, residents held Christmas services on Sunday, defying Russia’s Orthodox spiritual leaders who celebrate it on January 7.

Mr Putin has used the concept of “historical Russia” to argue that Ukrainians and Russians are one people, undermining Kyiv’s sovereignty and justifying his invasion.

He said Russia’s “geopolitical opponents (were) aiming to tear apart Russia, the historical Russia – divide and conquer, that’s what they have always sought to accomplish and are still seeking.

“But our goal is different: it’s to unite the Russian people,” he said.

Mr Putin declared his government was acting “in the right direction … protecting our national interests, the interests of our citizens, of our people.”

He repeated Moscow was ready to negotiate and appeared unfazed when asked about the air defence system the US will deliver to Ukraine.

“Of course we will destroy it, 100 per cent,” he said, referring to the Patriot missile battery promised to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Last week, in his first trip outside Ukraine since the offensive began, Mr Zelensky earned firm pledges of support from US President Joe Biden, including delivery of the Pentagon’s most advanced air defence system.

Western military and financial aid has been crucial for Ukraine’s pushback of Russian troops – including from Kherson, the only regional capital held by Russia.

Despite Russia’s retreat from the city, it remains within reach of Moscow’s weaponry and under constant threat. The Ukrainian army counted 71 strikes on the partly recaptured Kherson region on Saturday, local time, including 41 on the city itself.

This included deadly shelling on a busy market in the city centre that left 10 people dead and 55 injured – an atrocity branded an act of terrorism by the West.

In his daily address on Sunday, local time, Mr Zelensky condemned Russian “terrorists” and thanked all his compatriots involved in defending Ukraine.

“Thank you … to everyone who came to Kherson to help. To save the wounded from the terrorists’ strike on Christmas. Artillery and mortar against ordinary Kherson streets … monsters!” he said.

On Christmas Day, church bells pealed throughout Kyiv as Orthodox Christians attended Christmas services, in a break with Russian spiritual leaders who will mark the holiday in two weeks.

At a service in central Kyiv, Olga Stanko said she supported any move that would distance Ukraine from Russia.

“The war has brought us so much grief,” she said. “We cannot do this with Russia, remain under its influence.”

Also attending the service, Olena Zakharova-Gorianska said she was happy to be celebrating Christmas on December 25 for the first time – describing it as an obvious choice after surviving Russian occupation in the town of Gostomel, north of Kyiv.

“I do not want to have anything to do with the occupiers, with the enemy,” she said.

Ukraine had been under Moscow’s spiritual leadership since at least the 17th century.