Zelensky tells Patriarch Bartholomew about power outage problems
Patriarch Bartholomew and Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: rbc.ua
On December 25, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. According to the presidential press service, Zelensky congratulated his interlocutor on the Nativity of Christ and thanked him for his support of Ukraine and for his diplomatic efforts.
Zelensky spoke about the difficult circumstances in which Ukrainians are forced to celebrate the holiday, in particular due to strikes that Russia has been carrying out against the country’s energy infrastructure.
“In many cities and villages, scheduled power outages are in effect,” he added.
According to Zelensky, “we are dealing with barbarians who, in the end, do not believe in God.” Russia, he added, “is trying to make a thirst for killing the foundation of national pride.”
Zelensky assured that the Ukrainian side would continue to “counteract the war,” while also thanking Patriarch Bartholomew “for his readiness to continue supporting all peaceful efforts.”
As previously reported by the UOJ, in his Christmas message, Zelensky wished death upon Putin.
Read also
In Konotop, UOC church and eparchial administration damaged by shelling
A blast wave shattered the windows and damaged the domes and buildings on the territory of the All Saints parish and the administration of the Konotop Eparchy.
In Ukraine, new cases of church destruction recorded over government inaction
Against the backdrop of Ukrainian authorities’ statements about the confiscation of churches, the condition of the holy sites points to the Ministry of Culture’s inaction and the loss of cultural heritage.
In Horodylets village, TRC abducts UOC church rector
In the Volyn region, after a UOC priest was detained by TRC officers, the religious community was left without the priest's spiritual care.
OCU “hierarch” dismissed for selling draft dodgers fake clergy IDs
The OCU synod sent Kyrylo Mykhailyuk to a monastery for his involvement in fraudulent schemes.
TRC-abducted monk from UOC Rivne Eparchy sent to military unit
After being detained, the UOC monk underwent a military medical board, was deemed fit with restrictions, and was sent to a support unit in Rivne Region.
Khmelnytskyi court hands Letychiv UOC church to fictitious OCU community
The Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal overturned the first-instance ruling and rejected the UOC rector’s lawsuit seeking access to the church and property that had been re-registered to the OCU.