Putin praises Russian Orthodox Church for backing troops in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Christmas service at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia January 7, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

(Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin on Saturday praised the Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Moscow's forces fighting in Ukraine in an Orthodox Christmas message designed to rally people behind his vision of modern Russia.

The Kremlin issued Putin's message after the Russian leader attended an Orthodox Christmas Eve service on his own inside a Kremlin cathedral rather than joining other worshippers in a public celebration.