Zelensky vows to wreak ‘wrath’ against Russia in 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky vowed in his New Year’s address Sunday to wreak “wrath” against
Russian forces in 2024, despite what he said were attempts to “undermine”
support for Kyiv.

His message came less than 72 hours after Moscow launched a barrage of
missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities, killing 39 people in one of the
biggest aerial attacks since the war began.

“Next year, the enemy will feel the wrath of domestic production,” Zelensky
said in his televised address, which featured clips of Ukrainian artillery and
fighter jets.

Ukraine will have at least “a million” additional drones in its arsenal
next year, Zelensky added, as well as F-16 fighter jets delivered by its
Western partners.

“Our pilots are already mastering F-16 jets, and we will definitely see
them in our skies,” he said, “So that our enemies can certainly see what our
real wrath is.”

With the war now entering its third calendar year, Zelensky has urged his
Western allies to keep up support amid increasing signs of fatigue with the
conflict.

“Ukrainians are stronger than any intrigues, any attempts to diminish
global solidarity, to undermine the coalition of our allies,” Zelensky
cautioned in his message.

Despite billions of dollars’ worth of Western weapons, Ukraine struggled to
make a major breakthrough in its 2023 counteroffensive against invading
Russian forces.

Moscow has meanwhile ramped up pressure along the frontlines, capturing the
eastern town of Marinka earlier in December and pushing for control of
Kupiansk in the northeast.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not broach the war in Ukraine during
his New Year’s Eve address, which was noticeably scaled back compared to last
year’s. (BSS/AFP)