The Russian InvasionThe Battles

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles

 

Zelenskyi for 2023 - wishes only one thing  

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a New Year's address on Saturday and said that he wanted only one thing for 2023: 

 

Victory. At the same time, much of what he said was a reminder of what has been expressed numerous times by him since February: a focus on the consequences of being drawn into war — for example, what Ukraine and its citizens have had to pay for the conflict. 

 

"2022 hit our hearts. We all cried our tears. Shout our prayers. 311 days. There is something to say about every single minute. But most words are redundant. No explanations are needed. What we need is silence," he said, according to The Guardian.  

 

Zelenskyy said he hoped the new year would be a step back toward normalcy, to an existence where children and the elderly can once again be allowed to be just that. 

 

 

People gathered around the damaged hotel in central Kyiv. Felipe Dana / AP 

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Kyiv resident after new Russian attack: "We know how disgusting they are"  

 

For many Ukrainians, 2022 ended in a way many have grown accustomed to — new bombs falling from the sky. That Russia chose to attack even on New Year surprised few, according to the New York Times.  

- We all know how vile they are, and everyone understood in theory that they would be ready to attack during the celebration as well. Although we hoped it would have changed, pensioner Viktoria Dubrovina said.  

 

A falling bomb hit a hotel in downtown Kyiv, shattering glass panes and tearing a five-story hole in the building. Ihor Suruchanu, a lawyer by day who had a case in the area, interpreted the attack as a sign of desperation on the Russian side. 

 

- When I see this, I think we can win, he said. [Putin] wants to spoil the celebration with his rockets, take away our electricity and punish us for not wanting to be Russian.