Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (file photo)
Kyiv: No matter what Moscow does to weaken the West's support towards it, Ukraine will unleash attack against Russian forces this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged in his New Year's address, reports Agence France-Presse.
Around 72 hours ago, Russia bombarded Ukrainian cities and killed 39 people. This was one of the largest air attacks since the Russian offensive started in Ukraine in February 2022.
In his video address, Zelensky said that the coming year will see the enemy experiencing the wrath of domestic production. The video featured footage of Ukrainian artillery and fighter jets.
He said that Ukraine is planning to arm at least a million drones and its West-delivered F-16 fighter jets this year. Their pilots are mastering the F-16s, and they are to take the skies so that their enemy would witness their true wrath, he said.
The Russia-Ukraine war was about to enter its third year, and Zelensky urged Western allies to continue extending support.
"Ukrainians are stronger than any intrigues, any attempts to diminish global solidarity, to undermine the coalition of our allies," AFP quotes Zelensky.
Though Ukraine was receiving billions of dollars' worth of Western weapons, it couldn't make a major breakthrough last year in countering the Russian offensive. Russia, however, increased pressure along the frontlines. It captured the eastern town of Marinka earlier in December and is trying its best to capture Kupiansk in the northeast.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his army and demanded "unity" in his New Year's Eve address. He however did not mention Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported.
Last year, Putin addressed the country on the occasion flanked by soldiers in Uniform. However, this time, he described the year 2024 as the "year of the family". He was in front of the traditional backdrop of the Kremlin.