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Vladimir Putin attended a religious service celebrated alone in a Kremlin church at midnight on Friday for Orthodox Christmas, marked by the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
The Russian president followed the celebration in the Cathedral of the Annunciation, originally designed as a church for the tsars, led by priests in golden albs, some of whom held candelabras, according to footage released by the Kremlin.
In previous years, Vladimir Putin used to attend religious services for Orthodox Christmas in Russian provinces or on the outskirts of Moscow.
The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7.
