Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated the shooting down of two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve, declaring it as setting the right mood for the upcoming year. In his Christmas message, which marked the first official observance of the holiday on December 25 instead of January 7, Zelenskyy also claimed that Ukraine had destroyed three additional Russian fighter planes on the preceding Friday.
“The stronger our air defense, the fewer Russian devils will be in our skies and on our land,” Zelenskyy asserted, commending Ukraine’s capabilities in negotiations with partners and its ability to enhance its sky defense and protect the homeland from Russian threats.
His upbeat assessment comes amid growing concern about battlefield disappointments and about the future of Western aid for Ukraine’s war effort. Despite high hopes for a summer counteroffensive, the front line has barely moved and political disputes in allied countries leave billions of dollars of aid in doubt.
On Monday, Russia asserted a battlefield advance, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stating that Moscow’s forces had seized control of Marinka. Marinka is a strategically significant town situated approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Donetsk, the largest city in the territory held by Russia in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, mentioned that the control of Marinka allows for a more effective defense of Donetsk from potential attacks. Ukrainian officials did not provide immediate comments on the reported seizure of the town.
In response to the military developments, Ukraine reported that its air defense forces intercepted 28 Russian drones, alongside the shooting down of two Russian planes during the night. The Ukrainian air force indicated the launch of 31 drones in total, with no details provided on the targets of the three that were not intercepted.
A summary from the Ukrainian presidential office noted that, in the preceding 24 hours, one civilian was killed and at least four were wounded in Russian attacks. The incident occurred in the town of Chornobaivka in the Kherson region, which is under Ukrainian control and frequently experiences attacks.