If Ukraine loses this war once morest Russia, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will bring the war closer to the West. “Putin recognizes weakness like an animal, because he is an animal,” Zelensky said in an interview with British magazine The Economist published on New Year’s Day. If he smells blood, Putin will become strong.
“And he will also eat everyone for dinner, including your EU, NATO, freedom and democracy.” Zelenskyj currently saw no viable path to peace. He himself sees “no fundamental steps” being taken on the Russian side. Instead, there are only constant air strikes from the Russian side. “I only recognize the steps of a terrorist state.” At most, Russia sends supposed peace signals when the arsenals are empty. But following a pause for breath, things continue once more “with all force.”
Zelensky did not want to reveal Ukraine’s war goals for 2024, as leaks last year revealed preparations for Ukraine’s summer offensive and made the Russians’ preparations possible. However, work is being done to reduce Russia’s military capabilities in Crimea. “This is extremely important for us because it would allow us to reduce the number of attacks from this region,” Zelensky said. The majority of drones used to attack Ukrainian cities originate from Crimea.
Russian wave of attacks on Ukrainian cities
In order to cut off the peninsula from its supplies, Ukraine needs the German Taurus cruise missiles, Zelensky said. This might mean attacking the Kerch Bridge, for example. “Russia must know that this is a military target for us.” So far, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to deliver the Taurus to Kiev.
On New Year’s Day, the Russian military launched another wave of attacks with combat drones and missiles once morest Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kiev. The population was called upon to go to shelters on Monday followingnoon, Ukrainian media reported. Shortly followingwards, explosions were heard around the city as anti-aircraft defenses went into action. Drone and missile attacks have also been reported in other cities in eastern Ukraine. Near Sumy, two people died when a drone hit a residential building.
Russia launched 90 so-called kamikaze drones to targets in Ukraine on New Year’s Eve. According to its own information, the Ukrainian air defense system destroyed 87 of these drones.
Heavy fighting was reported from the various sectors of the front on New Year’s Day. The Ukrainian General Staff in Kiev announced in the evening that 38 attacks by Russian troops had been repelled in the east of the country alone. The Ukrainian rocket artillery managed to hit several Russian infantry staging areas and artillery positions. The information might not be independently verified.
