In his traditional New Year’s address, President Vladimir Putin praised Russian troops on the front lines and reaffirmed Moscow’s confidence in victory as the Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday expressed confidence in Moscow’s eventual victory in Ukraine during his New Year’s Eve address on Wednesday, as the conflict approaches its fourth year.
Airing first in the far-eastern Kamchatka peninsula — the first Russian region to enter 2026 — Putin called on citizens to support Russian troops.
“We believe in you and our victory,” AFP quoted Putin as saying as he extended his New Year greetings to “fighters and commanders” on the front lines.
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“Millions of people across Russia are thinking of you,” he added, framing the war as a shared national effort.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll, with military casualties on both sides estimated in the tens or even hundreds of thousands.
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Dressed in a black suit and dark-blue tie, Putin stood before the Kremlin, emphasising unity and patriotism.
“The strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of the Fatherland, its development and its future,” The Moscow Times quoted him as saying.
The televised address, a staple of Russian New Year celebrations dating back to the Soviet era, was broadcast across all 11 Russian time zones.
Unlike his more overtly militarised speech at the start of the 2022 war, this year’s address was comparatively subdued, following a familiar pre-war format.
December 31 also marks the 26th anniversary of Putin’s rise to the presidency, after Boris Yeltsin resigned on New Year’s Eve 1999, a milestone underscoring his long tenure in power.
With inputs from agencies