What exactly is Kupala Night?

Kupala Night is one of the oldest folk holidays in Ukrainian culture and is a feature of several Slavic countries. It pre-dates Christianity (although some historians contest exactly when it emerged), when people believed in worshiping the elements or the gods.

The wreath is important to #Kupala Night as they were to determine what girl's fate and when she would marry.

Weaving was considered very important: one should pick flowers in a good mood and preferably alone, and while weaving one should think only of pleasant moments.

If you want to read to read about Myroslava’s celebration of the festival, click on the link and if you find this human-orientated journalism beneficial, please consider subscribing:

https://counteroffensive.substack.com

NEWS OF THE DAY:

A top #NorthKorean official, said that #Russia could "opt for any kind of retaliatory strike" if the U.S. continued to support #ukraine This could start a “new world war,” said vice chairman of North Korea’s Central Military Commission, according to #reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/north-korean-official-criticises-us-expanding-support-ukraine-kcna-reports-2024-06-23/

At least 4 people are dead in occupied #crimea and more than 150 injured, after a strike was intercepted over the city of #Sevastopol Fragments from the American-supplied ATACMS missiles led to casualties on the ground at a beach, #Russia claims.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6pppr719rlo

Ukraine war: Russia blames US and vows response for Crimea deaths

Russia says US-made missiles programmed by American specialists were used in an attack which killed four.

^{Matt Murphy (BBC News)}

The Counteroffensive has not been able to independently confirm this and Russian government sources have been known to mislead.

Russia said that there would be "consequences" for the strike, the BBC reports. Russia illegally occupied Crimea in 2014.

….RUSSIA BLAMES #us FOR BEACH STRIKE: #Russia summoned the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, NBC News reports, a formal diplomatic move that indicates they believe the blame should be squarely placed on #america which supposedly provided the missiles used in the intercepted attacks.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-blames-us-ukrainian-strikes-crimea-rcna158471

Russia blames U.S. for 'barbaric' Ukrainian attack on Crimea, summons ambassador

Russian authorities said three people died in Ukrainian drone and missile attacks on Sunday, a day after Russia’s bombing of Ukraine’s second largest city of Kharkiv.

^{Yuliya Talmazan (NBC News)}