Zelensky Calls for Putin's Death in Christmas Eve Address

Ukrainian Leader's Stark Christmas Message

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an unusually direct Christmas Eve address, stating that his compatriots have one wish as "the heavens open" on this night — the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his traditional address to Ukrainians on Christmas Eve, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his compatriots have one wish as "the heavens open" on this night — the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The stark message came as Ukraine marked its fourth consecutive Christmas under full-scale war. "For the fourth year in a row – the fourth year of the full-scale war for independence – there have been attempts to take all of this away from us," Zelenskyy said on Wednesday night. The president emphasized what Ukrainians are defending: "And this is exactly what we are defending today: our land, our families, that longed-for feeling of peace and calm in our own home."

This Christmas marked a significant shift for Ukraine, as the country officially moved its celebration from the traditional Eastern Orthodox date of January 7th to December 25th, breaking with Russian religious customs. The change represents part of Ukraine's broader effort to distance itself from Soviet-era traditions and align more closely with Western practices.

Christmas Under Fire

Zelensky's address came amid continued Russian aggression on the holiday. Meanwhile, Russia launched 131 drones against Ukraine on Christmas Eve, according to Ukrainian air force. Two people were killed and 35 injured across multiple regions, including Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Sumy, regional authorities reported.

The attacks follow a pattern of Russian strikes during significant Ukrainian holidays. Last year, Russia launched more than 70 missiles and over 100 drones on 25 December, killing at least one person and leaving half a million people without heating in Kharkiv region. In 2023, Russian drone strikes killed four people in Kherson as Ukraine celebrated Christmas on December 25th for the first time.

The timing of these attacks underscores the psychological warfare aspect of Russia's strategy, deliberately targeting moments when Ukrainian families gather to celebrate peace and hope.

Diplomatic Stalemate Continues

Behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Russia continues to assert maximalist demands, insisting that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory in Donbas that it has not captured — an ultimatum that Kyiv has rejected. Recent peace proposals have yielded little progress, with Russia's response to international mediation efforts remaining non-committal.

Moscow was expected to respond to the 20-point plan on Wednesday. However, Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said later in the day that the Kremlin will "take into account" what Washington communicated to Putin "to formulate our further positions".

The vague diplomatic language suggests that meaningful negotiations remain distant, even as international pressure mounts for a resolution to the conflict that has devastated both countries and disrupted global stability.

A Christmas Defined by Resilience

Zelensky's Christmas message reflects a nation that has fundamentally transformed under the pressure of war. What began as a conflict over territory has evolved into a broader struggle over national identity, religious independence, and Ukraine's place in Europe. The decision to celebrate Christmas on December 25th symbolizes this larger transformation.

The president's direct language about Putin's death, while shocking to international audiences, resonates with a Ukrainian population that has endured nearly three years of devastating attacks on civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and schools. For many Ukrainians, diplomatic niceties have given way to a stark recognition of the war's existential nature.

As 2025 draws to a close, Ukraine faces an uncertain future. The war has reshaped European security, strained international alliances, and created the largest refugee crisis since World War II. Yet Zelensky's Christmas address also revealed a nation that refuses to surrender its vision of independence and peace, even in the darkest of times.