Christmas dinner in a field and a tank decorated with fairy lights: photos of Christmas on the front line

This year, Ukraine is celebrating Christmas for the second time during the full-scale invasion. Defenders who cannot celebrate with their families are trying to create a Christmas atmosphere on the front line.

Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life) has put together a selection of pictures from the front line.

On Christmas Eve, soldiers from the 72nd Mechanised Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians set up an improvised festive table, which they shared with a priest. [The Black Zaporozhians were a cavalry unit that served with the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic in 1918-1920 – ed.]

"We must find time for light, especially in dark times," the brigade posted.

Mykyta Shandyba, head of the press service of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade Edelweiss, posted a heartbreaking series of pictures of a soldier sitting at a traditional Christmas table. But the table isn’t in a home - it’s in the middle of a field near the front line.

"We did this so you could remember!

There is no mud, blood or bombardment in these photos. There is a soul in these photos that everyone who looks at them will feel. Family warmth and hugs from loved ones are what everyone defending those they care about is dreaming of," he stressed.

Photographers Vlada and Kostiantyn Liberov captured the Christmas preparations of soldiers serving on the Avdiivka front. On the eve of the holiday, they decorated not only a Christmas tree, but also a tank. 

"There are no holidays here in the cold and mud. It’s not for themselves that they put up Christmas trees and wear Christmas hats and record Christmas videos. No matter how hard it is for them here, they take care of us and pretend to be Santa Claus in the midst of utter despair to give some hope and holiday spirit to us," the photographers said.

Soldiers of the 14th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great took part in a religious service on Christmas Eve.

"We are far away from our families on this festive evening... We want family warmth and comfort so much... But we are where we should be! We want our families to have a peaceful Christmas Eve," the brigade's press service emphasised.

The press service of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade based in Zakarpattia Oblast posted a photo of a defender standing in a church that has been destroyed by the Russians. 

"Where we are, Christmas is not celebrated in the original sense, because the houses are damaged and empty, the churches have been destroyed by enemy attacks, and instead of Christmas and New Year decorations, there are just pieces of missiles and shells... 

We will pray for the birth of Jesus in the trenches and dugouts. And after victory, we will celebrate with our families and friends, as it should be!" they wrote. 

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