Russia-Ukraine war: Zelenskyy says Ukrainians will endure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian people would continue to endure despite continued Russian strikes across the country’s energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy’s remarks come amidst the war already reaching 10 months.

On Saturday, Zelenskyy delivered a defiant message to the Ukrainian people, especially to those who celebrate Christmas at this time, as most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians and celebrate the holiday in early January. Zelenskyy’s remarks come on the day that marks 10 months since Russia invaded back in February.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would remain standing despite the continued attacks by Russia on the country, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions of others. Zelenskyy said that while the price of freedom is high, slavery costs even more.

“We endured at the beginning of the war – we withstood attacks, threats, nuclear blackmail, terror, missile strikes. We will endure this winter because we know what we are fighting for,” said Zelenskyy in his remarks.

“Even in complete darkness, we will find each other to hug each other tightly. And if there is no heat, we will embrace each other for a long time to warm one another,” said Zelenskyy. “We will smile and be happy, as always. There is one difference – we will not wait for a miracle, since we are creating it ourselves.”

Zelenskyy added that Ukrainian troops were fighting in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as others are in exile at home or overseas, having fled from the Russians. Zelenskyy said Ukraine has been fighting Russia for eight years, referring to the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia in 2014.

On Monday, the British defense ministry, in its intelligence update, said that Russian forces have been more focused on building their defensive positions on the front lines in Ukraine since October. The ministry noted that the efforts to build defensive positions have even gone beyond Russia’s doctrinal guidelines.

The ministry said that Russia also faces a shortage in “surveillance assets” and “trained personnel” to monitor large new minefields that are set up, as minefields only become an “effective obstacle” for trained personnel if “covered by observation and fire.”