Setting the Right Mood for the Year Ahead: Zelenskyy

"The stronger our air defence, the fewer Russian devils will be in our skies and on our land."

"[In praise of Ukraine's] capabilities in negotiations with partners, capabilities in bolstering our sky shield, capabilities in defending our homeland from Russian terrorists."

"This Christmas sets the right mood for the entire year ahead." 

"Every Russian pilot must make a clear choice whether to continue participating in this war."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelanskyy

File image of a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 shot down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns.

Nicola Marfisi/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

President Zelenskyy's message belies concern emanating from Western sources murmuring of battlefield disappointment and the future of Western support in material aid for the Ukraine war effort. His message was upbeat, and coincided with Ukraine's first official observation of Christmas on December 25 instead of its traditional observation of the holiday on January 7. His announcement was a gift to his audience as he addressed the nation, informing them that another three Russian fighter planes had been shot down and destroyed by Ukrainian forces.

Russia too had a statement of their own, of a battlefield advance, when Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Moscow forces have control of Marinka, now deserted, but considered important for its strategic value located some 20 kilometres west of Donetsk, the largest city in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. "This allows us today to more effectively protect Donetsk from attacks", said Shoigu, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

 

Attacks, needless to say, from a country reclaiming its own territory. Ukraine announced that its air defence forces had intercepted 28 Russian drones, along with having shot down the three Russian warplanes. The total number of drones over Ukraine came to 31, but it remains unknown what occurred with the three that hadn't been intercepted and where they may have struck. The Kherson region, under Ukrainian control continues to experience frequent attacks.

Legislation was signed in July to move the traditional Orthodox Christmas holiday date. There are two Orthodox Christian churches in Ukraine; one with long affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, separate from the authority of the Russian church had been granted full recognition by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Orthodox Christianity's top authority, in 2019.

 

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church operated as a branch of the Russian church, but soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it announced its intention to break its ties with Moscow. Even so, its parishes still follow the same calendar as the Russian church, observing Christmas on January 7. And for that special occasion gifts keep piling up, as Ukraine demonstrates its military proficiency not only in the air, and on land but also at sea.

"[Latest developments indicate that Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea] is now challenged."

"This latest destruction of Putin’s navy demonstrates that those who believe there’s a stalemate in the Ukraine war are wrong."

"They haven’t noticed that over the past four months, 20% of Russia’s Black Sea fleet has been destroyed."

British defence secretary, Grant Shapps

A file photo of the Novocherkassk. Photograph: Yoruk Isik/Reuters

The winter counteroffensive is starting out very nicely indeed for Ukraine. Perseverance, endurance and courage, all requisite endowments in the Ukrainian spirit of self-defence in its determination to shove Moscow's troops back into Russia, recover its east, and demonstrate unequivocally to Vladimir Putin that Ukraine is indivisible and sovereign. The Russian landing ship Novocherkassk stationed in the Crimean port city of Feoddosia was struck by the Ukrainian air force.

"The fleet in Russia is getting smaller and smaller! Thanks to the air force pilots and everyone involved for the filigree work!" the commander of Ukraine’s air force, Mykola Oleshchuk announced on Tuesday.

Russia-appointed head of occupied Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, issued a statement that there had been "an enemy attack in [the] Feodosia area, [that] detonation has stopped and the fire has been localized", without adding such inconvenient details such as that the ship was totally destroyed.

 

Large explosion in Crimea as Ukrainian airstrike hits Russian warship – video