In his New Year's address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared his resolve to unleash "wrath" against Russian forces in 2024, emphasizing that Ukraine has grown stronger as the conflict approaches its second year. The slick 20-minute video message, delivered from his Kyiv office, outlined the resilience of Ukrainians in the face of Russian attacks and hardships.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Zelenskiy's address made minimal direct reference to the frontline situation or the limited success of the counteroffensive launched in June. Diplomatic and political challenges in securing military aid from the US Congress and the European Union were also left unmentioned.
Zelenskiy acknowledged the lessons learned by Ukrainians in withstanding Russian attacks and adapting to adversities such as blackouts, operational challenges in industries, and threats to export shipping. The president highlighted Ukraine's strength, stating, "The major result of the year, its main achievement: Ukraine has become stronger. Ukrainians have become stronger."
Amid Zelenskiy's message of strength, further attacks unfolded, with Ukraine's air force reporting a new overnight air assault by Russia on Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Dnipro regions. Local authorities reported casualties in Odesa, adding to the toll of a recent aerial attack that claimed 39 lives.
Zelenskiy pointed to successes in containing and attacking Russia's navy in the Black Sea, emphasizing Ukrainian achievements against Russian vessels. He pledged that Ukraine would see F-16s in the skies in the coming year, reinforcing promises to enhance domestic weapons production and manufacture at least one million drones.
As Ukraine enters its third calendar year of conflict, Zelenskiy urged Western allies to maintain support, emphasizing Ukrainian strength against any attempts to diminish global solidarity. Despite receiving billions of dollars in western weapons, Ukraine faced challenges in making significant breakthroughs in its 2023 counteroffensive against Russian forces.
In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin's New Year's Eve address lacked explicit mention of Ukraine or the term "special military operation," used to describe the war. The scaled-back address did not touch on the estimated casualties among Russian soldiers or the conflict's spillover onto home territory, exemplified by a recent Ukrainian attack near the border. Notably absent was any reference to the June armed mutiny by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary group.