Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that his country will not forgive Russia and its aggression after Moscow conducted a barrage of strikes in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv just hours before the New Year, killing at least one person and injuring several. Follow our blog to see how the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).
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9:17pm: Ukraine's Zelensky, in New Year message, predicts victory in 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday predicted victory in the war against Russia next year, saying it would come through hard work rather than miracles, as well as aid from foreign partners.
"Today there is only one wish. And it will come true not by a miracle but through our work, our struggle, mutual aid and humanity," he said. "Happy new year! The year of our victory."
Zelensky alluded to repeated Russian strikes that have smashed the power-generating system, saying light could be found in everyone, even when there was no electricity.
Zelensky made the forecast in a short written message to mark the New Year, a modest effort compared to the nine-minute Christmas video he released on December 24.
6:30pm: 2022 comes to a painful end for Ukrainians
As Ukrainians prepare to celebrate the new year, fresh strikes have targeted several cities including the capital Kyiv.
"Not many good things happened this year, just the New Year and my birthday," said a young Ukrainian man in a covered market in Kyiv. "To the enemy I say, get out before it's too late (...) You came here even though you were not invited!"
FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago, Daryna Viter and Mélina Huet report.
4:54pm: 'Ukraine will not forgive' Russia after latest strikes, says Zelensky
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that his country will not forgive Russia and its aggression after Moscow conducted a barrage of strikes just hours before the New Year.
"Several waves of missile attacks on New Year's Eve. Missiles against people ... No one in the world will forgive you for this. Ukraine will not forgive," Zelensky said on social media.
3:25pm: Ukraine shot down 12 of 20 Russian missiles, say army
Ukraine's air defence shot down 12 out of 20 missiles launched by Russia on Saturday afternoon, hours before New Year's Eve celebrations, the Ukrainian army said.
Russia "launched more than 20 cruise missiles ... Our air defence destroyed 12 cruise missiles," Ukraine's commander-in-chief General Valeriy Zaluzhny said on social media, adding that six of them were shot down over the capital Kyiv.
2:58pm: More explosions heard in Kyiv after first wave of blasts
More explosions sounded in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and the surrounding region on Saturday, shortly after the city was rocked by what officials said was a massive Russian missile attack.
Kyiv city authorities told residents to remain in shelters and said that Ukrainian air defences were active in Kyiv and the surrounding area.
2:24pm: Russia says Ukraine released 82 soldiers in prisoner exchange
Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday 82 captured Russian soldiers have been released by Ukraine in the latest prisoner exchange between the two sides.
2:06pm: 'Moral, historical rightness is on our side', Putin says on New Year's Eve
President Vladimir Putin said in his New Year's address Saturday that "moral, historical rightness" is on Russia's side as his country faces international condemnation for its offensive in Ukraine.
As Russian regions in the Far East rung in the New Year, the Russian leader delivered his traditional midnight address standing among soldiers who had fought in Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies.
Putin said in remarks carried by news agencies that this year was marked by "truly pivotal, fateful events" which became "the frontier that lays the foundation for our common future, for our true independence".
"Today we are fighting for this, protecting our people in our own historical territories, in the new constituent entities of the Russian Federation," he added, referring to Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed to have annexed.
"Moral, historical rightness is on our side," he said.
2:00pm: Ukraine officials report strikes on several regions, one dead in Kyiv
Russian strikes targeted several regions of Ukraine Saturday, including the capital Kyiv, where the attacks killed at least one person and injured several others, according to Ukrainian officials.
"According to preliminary information, one person died in the Solomianskyi district. Several people were injured," Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media. Attacks were also reported by local officials in the southern Mykolaiv region and the Khmelnytskyi region in the west.
1:47pm: Kyiv hotel damaged by explosion
A hotel in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, was damaged by an explosion in the city, Ukrainian presidential aide Kyrylo Tymoshenko said, amid what officials described as another massive Russian missile strike.
Tymoshenko wrote on Telegram that emergency services were heading to the scene but did not provide further details.
1:29pm: Russia’s Shoigu says victory is ‘inevitable’ in Ukraine
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Saturday that Russia's victory in Ukraine is "inevitable" in a New Year's message to servicemen, as Moscow's war campaign grinds through its 11th month.
"In the coming year, I want to wish everyone good health, fortitude, reliable and devoted comrades ... Our victory, like the New Year, is inevitable," Shoigu said in the video address released by the defence ministry.
Shoigu said that in the outgoing year "we all faced serious trials" and that the New Year comes during a "difficult military-political situation".
Moscow's troops have suffered a string of setbacks on the ground over the past months with the Kremlin in September announcing the mobilisation of 300,000 reservists to join the fighting.
1:10pm: Multiple explosions heard in Kyiv, mayor confirms
At least 10 explosions were heard in the city, according to AFP journalists, with local authorities announcing an air raid alert and urging residents to go to shelters.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that explosions could be heard in the city in a post on the Telegram app.
The governor of the surrounding Kyiv region warned shortly beforehand of a possible incoming missile attack, and that air defences in the region were engaging targets.
1:09pm: Air raid sirens ring out across Ukraine
Air raid sirens rang out in every Ukrainian region on Saturday, as local officials warned of the danger of missile strikes and urged citizens to take cover.
1:06pm: Putin says West is using Ukraine to destroy Russia in New Year video message
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday his country would never give in to the West's attempts to use Ukraine as a tool to destroy Russia in a New Year's video message broadcast on Russian state TV.
Putin said Russia was fighting in Ukraine to protect its "motherland", and to secure "true independence" for its people, in a message filmed in front of Russian service personnel.
1:05pm: Kyiv authorities asking residents to try to stay home on New Year's Eve
Kyiv is still under an 11pm to 5am curfew ahead on New Year's Eve, and city authorities are asking residents to try to stay home tonight. FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago reports.
10:01pm, December 30: Ukraine calls for more air defence weaponry as Russia steps up drone and missile attacks
Two days of attempted Russian missile and drone attacks have been largely rebuffed by Ukraine’s air defence system. Even so, “[Ukrainian] authorities have been multiplying their calls for such systems from the West, as Russia on Friday claimed their supply of caliber cruise missiles would never run out”, said FRANCE 24’s Luke Shrago, reporting from Kyiv.
NATO has urged member states to provide more weaponry as “the fastest route to peace”.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP and AP)
