Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual New Year’s Eve address to express confidence in Russia’s position in the war in Ukraine and to rally public support for the country’s armed forces.
Speaking in a televised broadcast, Putin said Russia believes it will prevail in the conflict, which began with the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The address coincided with the 26th anniversary of Putin’s rise to power following the resignation of former President Boris Yeltsin at the end of 1999.
Putin called on citizens to support Russian troops, presenting the war as a collective national effort as fighting continues on multiple fronts.
In his speech, Putin praised Russian soldiers and commanders, saying they were fighting for the country’s future and values.
“We believe in you and our victory,” he said, addressing troops deployed in Ukraine.
He described Russians as united behind the military, arguing that national cohesion was central to sovereignty, security, and long-term development.
The address followed a traditional format and was broadcast across Russia’s 11 time zones, continuing a longstanding practice dating back to the Soviet era.
Unlike his 2022 speech, which prominently featured uniformed soldiers, this year’s address was more restrained in tone and presentation.
Earlier the same week, Russia’s Defense Ministry released video footage it said showed a downed Ukrainian drone involved in an attempted attack on one of Putin’s residences in the Novgorod region.
Moscow claimed its air defenses intercepted 91 drones and reported no injuries or damage to the residence.
Ukraine denied the allegation, accusing Russia of fabricating the incident to justify further military action and to harden its position in peace negotiations.
Several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, India, and Pakistan, expressed concern over the reported incident, while European officials voiced skepticism.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported injuries and infrastructure damage from Russian drone attacks in the southern city of Odesa, including harm to residential buildings and energy facilities.
Russian military officials also said their forces were advancing in northeastern Ukraine, describing plans to expand a buffer zone near the border, a concept Kyiv has rejected.