In his Christmas address to the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an unusually stark message, appearing to wish death upon Russian President Vladimir Putin without mentioning him by name. His remarks came against the backdrop of renewed violence, as Ukraine faced fresh turmoil during the Christmas period following a series of Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy invoked an old Ukrainian belief known as “the heavens open,” a tradition that holds that wishes made on Christmas night are destined to come true. Drawing on this symbolism, he said that Ukrainians now shared a single collective dream and voiced a powerful wish, stating that it was one hope uniting everyone — that “he may perish,” an unmistakable reference to the Russian leader.
The statement followed a major Russian missile assault launched on Tuesday, just ahead of Christmas Eve, which struck multiple regions across Ukraine. According to reports, the attacks resulted in the deaths of at least three people and caused widespread power outages, plunging large parts of the country into darkness during the holiday period.
Hostilities continued even on Christmas Day, with Russia launching a barrage of 131 drones into Ukrainian territory. While Ukrainian air defences managed to intercept most of them, around 22 drones reportedly reached their targets across 15 different regions, causing further disruption and damage, according to international media reports.
Condemning the timing and scale of the strikes, Zelenskyy accused Russia of revealing its true intentions through such actions. He questioned Moscow’s claims about pursuing peace, saying that the use of missiles, drones, and high-speed weapons during a religious festival exposed the hollowness of those assertions. Describing the attacks as “godless,” he said they showed complete disregard for human life and shared values.
Despite the devastation, Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to remain resolute and united in the face of ongoing aggression. He paid tribute to those who had lost their lives defending the country and acknowledged the suffering of people living under occupation or forced to flee their homes. Emphasising resilience and collective strength, he said that even in the darkest moments, Ukrainians continued to stand together, determined not to lose their way or their sense of national identity.
