Kremlin’s triumphalist message clashes with civilian suffering as Russia escalates urban drone warfare.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used his traditional New Year’s Eve address to project confidence, declaring his belief that Russia would prevail in its war against Ukraine. The speech, first broadcast in the far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, marked the moment Russia’s earliest time zone entered 2026.
“We believe in you and our victory,” Putin told the nation, urging Russians to “support our heroes” fighting in Ukraine. He extended greetings to Russian “fighters and commanders,” claiming that millions across Russia were thinking of them. The address followed a long-standing tradition dating back to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, and was aired across Russia’s 11 time zones as millions watched on state television.
December 31 also marked a personal milestone for Putin: the 26th anniversary of his ascent to power, which began on New Year’s Eve 1999 following the resignation of Boris Yeltsin. The symbolism was unmistakable—continuity, control, and confidence projected to a domestic audience.
Yet the reality beyond the Kremlin’s narrative told a different story. Even as Putin spoke, Russian drones struck residential buildings and energy infrastructure in Odesa, injuring six civilians, including children. According to regional officials and energy provider DTEK, apartment blocks were damaged and multiple substations hit, further straining Ukraine’s power grid during winter.
These attacks reflect a broader pattern. As Moscow’s ground campaign stalls, Russia has intensified long-range drone and missile strikes on urban centers—aimed less at military targets and more at breaking civilian resilience. The contrast between victory rhetoric and nightly air-raid sirens underscores the widening gap between Kremlin messaging and battlefield realities.
As 2026 begins, Russia’s leadership offers certainty and resolve at home, while Ukraine faces continued pressure from an increasingly destructive aerial campaign. The war’s outcome remains far from settled, despite the confident words delivered at midnight.
