Ukraine's Christmas Date Shift Sparks Controversy over Russian Influence

Ukraine has changed the date of its official Christmas Day state holiday from January 7 to December 25, in an effort to distance itself from Russian influence. The move is part of a broader campaign to assert Ukrainian identity and comes as Ukraine has been cutting religious and cultural ties with Russia. The legislation also changes the dates of two other state holidays, the Day of Ukrainian Statehood and Defenders Day. This follows Ukraine's ban on naming places after Russian figures or events and the removal of Soviet-era monuments.