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When he’s not busy visiting children in cancer hospitals and being accused of having body doubles, apparently Vladimir Putin is trying to cancel Christmas.
Three of Russia’s border regions and invaded territories, including occupied Crimea, have annulled festivities including large crowds and fireworks.
Traditionally, Russians exchange presents at midnight on December 31 and mark Christmas Day by the Orthodox calendar on January 7.
Russia’s equivalent of Santa Claus – known as Grandfather Frost – usually appears on New Year’s Eve.
But this year festivities will be curtailed as Sergey Aksyonov, occupation ruler of Crimea, said: ‘There are no plans to hold large public events in the republic of Crimea for the New Year and Christmas.
‘The main priority is safety – but, of course, we will do everything necessary to create a festive mood for Crimeans.
’New Year holidays for children will be held in a limited format. Christmas trees will be installed and the streets will be decorated in public areas.’
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He warned of the threat of ‘terrorist’ strikes – although any strikes are likely to come from Ukraine as they attempt to regain their territory in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
On the Russian mainland, the governor of border region Kursk announced fireworks had been banned until the end of January.
Another border region, Belgorod, has also banned fireworks, imposing curbs on marking the festive season.
The curbs are the direct result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Crimea, Kursk and Belgorod have all been hit with incursions by the Ukrainian army – as well as missile and kamikaze drone attacks.
Other regions are expected to follow by cancelling Christmas and New Year festivities.
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