Despite repeated drone attacks, and blackouts, Kyiv's christmas tree was lit in Sophia Square on Monday, bringing some joy to the city's residents and internally displaced Ukrainians currently living there.
Although it is less extravagant than last year's tree, measuring 12 metres instead of 31, dozens of families gathered to take photos of the christmas tree illuminated in the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag. While the front is lit up, the back of the tree was decorated with white doves and the flags of countries supporting Ukraine.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko who inaugurated the tree on Saint Nicholas day said, there were lengthy discussions about whether it would be a good idea or not to have a public christmas tree given the ongoing war in Ukraine. In the end, authorities decided to go ahead with public celebrations albeit in a scaled back format.
