Ten months into the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine remains defiant. In a message on Saturday, the war-torn nation’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said the Ukrainians will show the Russian aggressors that they are standing their ground despite relentless attacks that have plunged millions into darkness, and that they will create your own Christmas magic.
On the day that marks 10 months since Moscow launched a war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, Zelensky said: “We resisted the beginning of the war: we resist attacks, threats, nuclear blackmail, terror, missile attacks. We will endure this winter because we know what we are fighting for.”
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He added that while freedom comes at a high price, slavery would cost more.
Addressing Ukrainians hoping to celebrate Christmas, he said: “Even in pitch darkness, we will meet to hug each other tightly. And if there is no heat, we will hug each other for a long time to warm up.”
In recent months, there have been devastating Russian missile and drone attacks that have targeted Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving major cities and thousands of people living in them without heat or water.
“We will smile and be happy, as always. There is a difference: we will not wait for a miracle, since we are creating it ourselves,” Zelensky said.
Referring to the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Ukrainian president also noted that the country’s troops have been waging the war for “300 days and eight years.”
“We have been fighting them for more than 300 days and eight years. Will we let them get what they want?” she asked.
(With agency contributions)
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