Breaking News:In New Year’s Eve address, Putin says Russia believes it will win war in Ukraine– What Just Happened

Putin’s traditional speech was first aired in the far-eastern Kamchatka peninsula, which was the first Russian region to enter 2026.

“We believe in you and our victory,” Putin said in his address to the Russians, while calling on them to “support our heroes” who are engaged in the offensive in Ukraine, AFP reported.

Moscow has led an almost four-year offensive in Ukraine.

Putin further extended happy New Year greetings to Russian “fighters and commanders” in Ukraine. “Millions of people across Russia, trust me, are thinking of you,” the Russian President added.

The televised New Year’s Eve speech by the Russian President continues as a tradition started by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, and is a holiday staple in Russia watched in millions of households, according to the AFP report. It is usually aired on Russia’s state TV just before midnight in all of Russia’s 11 time zones.

Meanwhile, December 31 also marks the 26th anniversary of Putin coming to power. Putin became the Russian President on New Year’s Eve 1999, after Boris Yeltsin stepped down.

Russia’s drone attack in Odesa injures six

Russian drones struck apartment buildings and the power grid in Odesa in southern Ukraine overnight, the Associated Press quoted officials as saying on Wednesday. The attack led to six people sustaining injuries, including a toddler and two other children.

In the drone attack, four apartment buildings were damaged regional military administration head Oleh Kiper said, according to AP. Further, the DTEK power provider said two of its energy facilities had suffered significant damage. The company added that 10 substations that distribute electricity in the Odesa region were damaged in December.

Russia has, this year, escalated the long-range attacks on urban areas of Ukraine.