Ukrainian President Zelenskyy vows to wreak 'wrath' against Russia in 2024

In spite of what he described as attempts to “undermine” support for Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged in his New Year’s message on Sunday to exact “wrath” against Russian soldiers in 2024.

Less than 72 hours had passed since Moscow unleashed one of the largest aerial raids since the start of the war, killing 39 people by firing a volley of missiles and drones against Ukrainian towns.

“Next year, the enemy will feel the wrath of domestic production,” Zelenskyy 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, Zelenskyy 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, Zelenskyy 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,” Zelenskyy 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.