Russian President Vladimir Putin in his New Year's address lauded the Russian troops as heroes while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged on Sunday to "destroy" the Russian forces waging a two-year war on his country.
The Ukrainian military announced on Monday that Russia launched a drone attack last night targeting the infrastructure of the Odesa port, resulting in a fire on one of the docks.
Through Telegram, the Southern Military Command of the Ukrainian army emphasized Russia's priority in targeting Odesa's port infrastructure, directing a large number of drones from the sea towards the coastal area. The command indicated that the fire was immediately extinguished and no injuries were recorded.
On Sunday, the head of the Ukrainian Donetsk region, appointed by Russia, Denis Pushilin, reported the death of four individuals due to Ukrainian shelling on the city. At the same time, Ukrainian officials stated that Russia carried out a new air assault on certain areas.
Pushilin noted via Telegram that approximately 13 individuals were also injured in a "strong attack" by the Ukrainian forces in central Donetsk.
Local authorities also announced the death of one person in Odesa in southern Ukraine and four others in Donetsk in the east of the country, due to strikes the previous Sunday night following escalated violence between Moscow and Kyiv.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported Russia's execution of a new aerial attack overnight, targeting Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Dnipro regions.
President Putin's Address
Putin's speech focused on values of unity and shared determination, without clearly referencing the current situation in Ukraine.
The pre-recorded address represented a notable change from last year's speech, in which Putin stood behind grim-faced soldiers, issuing a strong call for sacrifice in what he referred to as a "fight for life."
Putin expressed his support for all those involved in combat positions or at the front lines in their battle "for truth and justice," considering them heroes. He expressed pride and admiration for their courage.
Putin did not mention Ukraine by name in his speech, nor did he use the term "special military operation," which he had adopted to describe the Russian war against Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian news agencies later reported Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov's statement that Putin had a phone call with leaders in six military sectors in the context of the Russian war in Ukraine, extending New Year's greetings to them.
In recent months, Putin has toned down his nationalistic messages about Ukraine, focusing on economic issues and inflation due to the upcoming presidential elections in March.
In his address, he insisted that Russia has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to face tough challenges and that it will never back down, as "there is no force capable of dividing it."
Putin did not mention the fate of the hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers rumored to have been killed or wounded nor addressed the conflict reaching Russian territory, as indicated by a Ukrainian attack on Saturday on the city of Belgorod, just 34 kilometers from the border.
Moreover, he did not discuss the armed rebellion led by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian Wagner Group military company, in June 2023.
Zelensky Vows to Destroy Russian Forces
Conversely, in his New Year's address on Sunday, President Zelensky announced his intention to "destroy" the Russian forces in Ukraine following strikes in Donetsk and Odesa that killed five people.
Zelensky affirmed that Russia would witness this year the consequences of Ukrainian domestic military production, hinting at having one million drones in its arsenal by 2024, as well as F-16 fighter jets provided by Western partners.
The New Year's message comes less than 72 hours after Moscow's heavy bombardment of Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones, resulting in the death of 39 individuals in one of the largest aerial attacks since the beginning of the war.
Zelensky pointed out that Ukrainian pilots are mastering the use of F-16 jets, asserting that these aircraft will soon be seen in the country's skies, enabling their enemies to witness the impact of their wrath.
He called upon his Western allies to maintain their support, affirming that the Ukrainian people "remain strong in the face of any conspiracies," cautioning against attempts to undermine global solidarity and weaken the alliance of allies.
Fire extinguished in a building after a Russian drone attack in Kharkiv (AFP)
Escalated Attacks
The confrontations between Moscow and Kyiv escalated in recent days, with the Russian city of Belgorod witnessing an unprecedented attack, killing 24 on the past Saturday following a missile attack on Ukraine on Friday. Kyiv described this assault as "massive," resulting in the deaths of around 40 people.
On Sunday, Russia struck the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine in response to the unprecedented attack targeting Belgorod.
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed targeting of Kharkiv city with six guided missiles, announcing the destruction of 21 out of 49 Iranian-made "Shahed" drones launched by Russia overnight, with a particular focus on targeting areas in the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense declared on Sunday that its armed forces bombed "decision-making centers and military facilities" in Kharkiv.
In contrast, the governor of the region, Oleh Syniehubov, denied the Russian announcement and indicated that the missiles launched on Saturday evening hit a hotel, residential buildings, clinics, and hospitals.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack resulted in injuries to 28 individuals, including two youths and a British individual serving as a security advisor to a group of German journalists.
