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A portrait of slain separatist leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko hangs outside the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre on September 2.
A portrait of slain separatist leader Aleksandr Zakharchenko hangs outside the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre on September 2.
Ukraine Live Blog

Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

-- EDITOR'S NOTE: We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog as of September 3, 2018. You can find it here.

-- Tens of thousands of people gathered on September 2 in the separatist stronghold of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine to mourn a top rebel leader who was recently killed in a bomb attack.

-- Prominent Ukrainian historian Mykola Shityuk has been found dead in his home city of Mykolaiv, police said on September 2.​

-- Ukraine says it has imprisoned the man it accused of being recruited by Russia’s secret services to organize a murder plot against self-exiled Russian reporter and Kremlin critic Arkady Babchenko.

-- Ukraine and Russia are trading blame for the killing of a top separatist leader in eastern Ukraine.

-- Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the head of the head of the breakaway separatist entity known as the Donetsk People’s Republic, was killed in an explosion at a cafe in Donetsk on August 31.

-- The United States is ready to widen arms supplies to Ukraine to help build up the country's naval and air defense forces in the face of continuing Russian support for eastern separatists, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine told The Guardian.

-- The spiritual head of the worldwide Orthodox Church in Istanbul has hosted Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill for talks on Ukraine's bid to split from the Russian church, a move strongly opposed by Moscow.

*Time stamps on the blog refer to local time in Ukraine

18:58 9.4.2018

18:58 9.4.2018

18:32 9.4.2018

17:13 9.4.2018

15:50 9.4.2018

Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):

15:41 9.4.2018

Ukrainian Christians Celebrate Easter With 'Holy Fire'

Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.

Ukrainian Christians Celebrate Easter With 'Holy Fire'

Children wait for the Holy Fire, a flame lit in Jerusalem and passed from candle to candle, to arrive at the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. 
1/14 Children wait for the Holy Fire, a flame lit in Jerusalem and passed from candle to candle, to arrive at the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. 
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
The Holy Fire is said to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
2/14 The Holy Fire is said to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
3/14
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
After believers' candles are lit, they recite a prayer, followed by a midnight procession around the cathedral. 
4/14 After believers' candles are lit, they recite a prayer, followed by a midnight procession around the cathedral. 
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attends the Easter procession with his family, accompanied by Patriarch Filaret, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate.
5/14 Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attends the Easter procession with his family, accompanied by Patriarch Filaret, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate.
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
President Poroshenko and his wife Maryna observe the ceremony.
6/14 President Poroshenko and his wife Maryna observe the ceremony.
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch at the Easter service
7/14 U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch at the Easter service
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
Inside the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr
8/14 Inside the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
Patriarch Filaret leads the service.
9/14 Patriarch Filaret leads the service.
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
10/14
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
According to tradition, the Holy Fire emanates from the stone bed believed to be the spot where Jesus's body was placed for burial.
11/14 According to tradition, the Holy Fire emanates from the stone bed believed to be the spot where Jesus's body was placed for burial.
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
12/14
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
A priest blesses Easter baskets, which traditionally include a type of bread called paska and decorated Easter eggs known as pysanky or krashanky.
13/14 A priest blesses Easter baskets, which traditionally include a type of bread called paska and decorated Easter eggs known as pysanky or krashanky.
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
14/14
Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians in Ukraine celebrated Easter on April 7 and 8, one week later than the holiday celebrated by believers in Western churches. On the evening before Easter Sunday, a church delegation brought the Holy Fire, a flame lit at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to the cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Kyiv. RFE/RL Ukrainian Service photographer Serhiy Nuzhenko shared these photographs of the ceremony.
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