Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year’s Eve address to reaffirm Moscow’s belief that it will prevail in its war against Ukraine, urging Russians to stand behind troops fighting on the front lines.
Speaking in a televised message aired first in Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula — the country’s first region to enter 2026 — Putin praised soldiers involved in what he described as an ongoing offensive in Ukraine.
“We believe in you and our victory,” Putin said, calling on the public to support what he referred to as Russia’s “heroes.” He added that millions of people across the country were thinking of Russian “fighters and commanders” deployed in Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is nearing its fourth year, with Moscow continuing large-scale military operations despite heavy losses and international pressure.
Putin’s New Year’s Eve speech is a long-standing tradition in Russia, dating back to the Soviet era under leader Leonid Brezhnev. The address is broadcast on state television shortly before midnight across all 11 of Russia’s time zones and is watched by millions of households each year.
