“All this war that you are waging, you – Russia, it is not the war with NATO, as your propagandists lie,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
“It is not for something historical. It’s for one person to remain in power until the end of his life.
“And what will likely be with all of you, residents of Russia, doesn’t concern him,” he added.
Zelenskyy said “Russian chief is hiding behind the troops, behind missiles, behind the partitions of his residences and palaces” and behind his people.
“He hides behind you and burns your nation and your future. No one will ever forgive you for terror,” Zelenskyy emphasised.
Zelenskyy said: “many of the Russian missiles intercepted by air protection forces”.
“If it weren’t for air protection, the variety of casualties would have been totally different. Much larger,” he stressed.
“And that is yet one more proof for the world that assist for Ukraine should be elevated.”
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal earlier said Moscow wants to cause darkness and leave the country “at midnight for the New Year”.
Moscow intends to “intimidate, depart us at midnight for the brand new 12 months, trigger as a lot harm to civilian infrastructure as potential,” Shmyhal said on Telegram.
“There are assaults on civilian infrastructure in several areas of our nation. Residential buildings, resort, (a) store, place for festivals had been broken. There are lifeless and injured,” he wrote.
“Russians need to intimidate, depart us at midnight for the New Year, trigger as a lot harm to civilian infrastructure as potential.”
Russian shelling in recent weeks targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine has left much of the country without access to heat and power, amid a harsh winter season.
Ukraine hit by fresh Russian missiles on New Year’s Day
Ukrainians had a grim start to 2023 on Sunday, with yet more sirens and fresh missile attacks on their territory, as the death toll from Russia’s massive New Year Eve assault across the country climbed to at least three.
Night-time shelling that battered parts of the southern city of Kherson killed one person, wounded another and blew out hundreds of windows in a children’s hospital, according to deputy presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old woman injured in a rocket attack in eastern Khmelnytskyi later died of her wounds, the city’s mayor Oleksandr Symchyshyn said.
Multiple blasts rocked Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine on Saturday and through the night, injuring dozens, a sign that the pace of Russia attacks had picked up. Ukrainian officials claimed Russia was now deliberately targeting civilians, seeking to create a climate of fear and dent morale.
The blasts came just 36 hours after Russia launched a barrage of missiles on Thursday to damage energy infrastructure facilities, an unusually quickened rhythm that alarmed Ukrainian officials.
First lady Olena Zelenska expressed outrage that such massive missile attacks could come just before New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“Ruining lives of others is a disgusting behavior of our neighbours,” she said.
Air raid sirens were activated following the attacks in Kyiv, where air defenses later repelled 45 Iranian drones.
“On the evening of January 1, 2023, the Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made kamikaze drones Shahed-131/136,” the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.
“As a results of fight work by the air protection of the Air Force in cooperation with the anti-aircraft protection of different elements of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, 45 assault UAVs had been destroyed. 13 in 2022 and 32 in 2023.
“They failed to spoil the holiday for the Ukrainians.”
Thirty % of the capital was left with out energy attributable to emergency shutdowns, Klitschko mentioned.
“The municipal ‘life support system’ of the capital is operating normally. Currently, 30% of consumers are without electricity. Due to emergency shutdowns,” he mentioned on Telegram.
“Kyiv residents have water and warmth,” he added.
Klitschko additionally reported that the restrictions had been utilized to verify the open part of the purple metro line within the metropolis “for the presence of remnants of missile debris.”
“Specialists are on the way to that area,” he mentioned. “We will inform you further about the resumption of traffic on the red line.”
Locals in Kyiv informed CNN how they deliberate to spend the New Year within the capital.
“From 2023 I really want to win, and also to have more bright impressions and new emotions. I miss it very much. I also want to travel and open borders. And I also think about personal and professional growth, because one should not stand still. I have to develop and work for the benefit of the country,” mentioned Alyona Bogulska, a 29-year-old financier.
“This year, it’s a symbol, not that it’s a small victory, but a symbol that we survived the year,” mentioned Tatiana Tkachuk, a 43-year-old pharmacy worker.
“And I want to thank everyone who helps Ukraine. We’ve made a lot of friends. And in order to understand that we have a lot of good things, unfortunately, we had to go through terrible things. But so many people are doing real miracles for Ukraine.”
Ukrainian first woman Olena Zelenska mentioned the nation “will persevere,” following the strikes.
“On New Year’s Eve, cities should be covered by wave of celebration, joy and hope. Ukrainian cities are again covered by missile wave from Russia,” Zelenska tweeted.
“Ruining lives of others is a disgusting habit of our neighbors. But we will persevere and be even stronger – in spite of everything.”
