On the first day of the New Year, the whole of Ukraine ushered in air defense warnings.

Perhaps, the trend of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the new year has been previewed by the exchanges between the two sides on New Year's Eve.

For Ukrainians, the first dawn of 2023 arrives in uneasiness.

From December 31, 2022 to January 1, 2023, local time, the Russian army launched large-scale attacks on multiple states in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military claimed to have intercepted multiple Russian missiles, but many Ukrainians still spent this New Year's Day in the dark. At the same time, a bizarre accident occurred at a nuclear power plant in Russia.

In the new year, the direction of this conflict that has stirred up the global situation may have been revealed in this night's exchange of fire.

The entire territory of Ukraine was hit by missiles again

On New Year’s Eve from 2022 to 2023, air defense sirens sounded throughout Ukraine.

According to reports from both Russia and Ukraine, the Russian military launched a large-scale attack on infrastructure across Ukraine that night. The types of weapons included drones and cruise missiles. Violent explosions occurred in Kiev and other places, killing at least one civilian and injuring more than 20 people. Ukraine admitted that at least 30 urban areas in Kiev suffered from power outages.

Affected by the Russian army’s attack, the Ukrainian State Electric Power Company announced on December 31 that it would launch operations in Sumy Oblast, Nikolaev Oblast, Kirovorad Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and daycare centers on December 31. Mill and Odessa states implemented emergency power cuts.

A building in Kiev was hit by a Russian missile. Source: Reuters

The Ukrainian military said on January 1 that it intercepted 12 of the more than 20 missiles launched by the Russian military towards Ukraine. Russia has yet to respond. On December 29, Ukraine claimed that Russia had launched more than 120 missiles against it.

In the early morning of January 1, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region stated that the local air defense system intercepted four rockets over the city of Belgorod and the Belgorod district. Although preliminary information did not indicate that there were any casualties in the attack, the attack also sounded a wake-up call for the Russian army.

On the evening of December 31, the transformer of Unit 3 of the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant in Russia, which was undergoing routine maintenance, suddenly caught fire. Although the fire was extinguished shortly after, a dead power station worker and an injured employee were found at the fire scene.

Putin delivered a speech in the military camp

Beyond the battlefield, the two sides also faced tit-for-tat in the field of public opinion.

On December 31, local time, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered the 2023 New Year’s speech in the Southern Military District of Russia. This is the first time that Putin has delivered a relevant speech outside the Kremlin since he came to power, and the background of the speech was composed of Russian officers and soldiers participating in the "special military operation" against Ukraine.

"Russia Today" TV station described Putin's speech as "extremely lengthy", but Putin did release some important signals. Putin said that 2022 is full of truly significant turning points and destiny-changing events, which is the dividing line that lays the foundation for Russia’s national future and true independence.

According to Russian media reports, during Putin’s inspection of Russia’s Southern Military District that day, he toasted to welcome the New Year with President Xi Jinping, a representative of Russian military officers and soldiers, and President Xi Jinping shouted “Ula” three times.

Putin delivered a New Year's speech in the military camp for the first time. Source: aljazeera

Later, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy delivered a New Year’s address on multiple social platforms, saying that Ukraine “cryed all the tears” in 2022 and hoped to become a leader of Ukrainian soldiers and people in 2023. and the Territory’s “Year of Return.”

Zelensky also said he believed Ukraine’s air defense system could become “the most powerful in Europe.” Not long ago, the United States confirmed that it would provide Ukraine with the "Patriot" air defense and missile defense system, and Russia has issued a stern warning in this regard.

Russian experts say there is no turning back

However, Ukraine’s continuous receipt of military aid has been questioned even in the United States.

According to a report submitted to members of Congress by the U.S. Congressional Research Service disclosed by the media, professionals from Capitol Hill think tanks calmly pointed out the possible risks of aiding "patriots" to Ukraine.

These risks include deficiencies in legislation and regulation, as well as "possible risks" in the Middle East or Asia-Pacific after the US military allocates "Patriot" equipment.

In addition, the nuclear crisis and the collision of major powers are still the most worrying issues in the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict. On the one hand, nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities have frequently become areas of exchange of fire between the two sides, and the risk of tactical nuclear weapons being put into actual combat is always there; on the other hand, the United States and Russia have basically made no achievements in nuclear arms control and strategic stability dialogue, and nuclear issues in other regions have also emerged. Intensify the situation.

Kiev citizens evaded air strikes in the subway station on New Year’s Eve. Source: Reuters

However, both Russia and Ukraine in the crossfire seem to be determined to win a unilateral victory. Dmitry Trenin, a member of the Russian Foreign and Defense Policy Council, recently wrote an article saying that there is no turning back for Russia’s current foreign policy. Well-known Russian scholar Alexander Dugin made a shocking statement on December 30, calling the Russia-Ukraine conflict the world's "first multipolar war" and that Russia's goals are irreconcilable with the West's "hegemony dream."

At the same time, leaders of many Western countries expressed in their New Year's speeches that they will continue to firmly support Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg called for continued military assistance to Ukraine.

Perhaps, the trend of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the new year has been previewed by the two sides' coming and going on New Year's Eve - both sides have offensive and defensive attacks on each other, but it is difficult for them to strike a winning blow, and peace Still a long way off.

Produced by Deep Sea Zone Studio

Written by Deep Sea Turtle

Editor by Deep Sea Mo

Extended reading

Russia The Defense Minister said that the victory of the Russian army was irreversible. Media: Putin is restoring Russia's dignity

At present, the situation in Russia and Ukraine is at a stalemate. Recently, the entire territory of Ukraine was attacked by a large-scale missile attack by the Russian army on the same day.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian army attacked two Ukrainian army reconnaissance and sabotage teams, destroyed two US-made M777 howitzers, destroyed a US-made "Haimas" rocket launcher system, and shot down a Ukrainian army aircraft. Su-25 and 1 Su-24 fighter.

Ukraine stated that the Ukrainian army repelled Russian attacks in Soledar, Avdeyevka and other places.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu recently stated that Russia has experienced severe tests in the past year and the daily order has been changed. "The New Year is not only a festival under the current circumstances, but also a symbol of hope for a peaceful future."

It is worth mentioning that Shoigu made it clear that the victory of the Russian armed forces is irreversible.

In fact, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has lasted for more than October. From Russia's initial blitzkrieg to the Ukrainian capital to the siege of the Mariupol Steel Plant, Russia's strategic calculations have been constantly adjusted amid the dilemma.

From the initial panic and hasty response to the war, Ukraine re-captured Kherson and launched a strategic counterattack in Donetsk. Russia and Ukraine had offensive and defensive attacks on each other, and each had its own gains and losses.

The well-known Russian scholar Alexander Dugin believes that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is the world’s “first multipolar war.” Russia is fighting for the right of every civilization to choose its own path in this conflict. , and the West hopes to maintain its totalitarianism, but the West is obsessed with the impossible dream of hegemony.

Indeed, the war between the two sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not that simple. The entanglement of historical longitude and reality makes black and white a bit more gray.

Recently, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on NATO member states to provide more weapons to Ukraine.

"It is in the security interests of all of us that I call on our allies to do more to ensure that Ukraine wins and Putin does not win," Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg file map

Previously, in a speech, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy asked the West to provide more weapons and air defense systems to help fight against Russia.

Recently, the United States has set an "example" and announced that it will provide nearly 2 billion US dollars in additional military assistance to Ukraine. NATO countries are also providing continuous military assistance to Ukraine.

British Defense Secretary Wallace recently stated that the UK will provide 2.3 billion pounds of support to Ukraine in 2023, which includes both military equipment and non-military support.

Due to the continued intervention of the United States and the West, there are too many variables in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the most concerning of which is nuclear war.

Whether the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will escalate or even trigger a nuclear war is not unfounded. From the perspective of Ukraine, thanks to the support of NATO, it has become more emboldened and has begun to carry out strategic strikes deep into Russian territory.

Facing disruptions from the United States and the West, Russia will naturally not sit still. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a presidential decree allowing buyers from "unfriendly countries" to use foreign currencies to pay arrears for the purchase of Russian natural gas. .

Starting from April 1, 2022, Russia requires buyers from "unfriendly countries" to use rubles to purchase Russian natural gas. Otherwise, they will be deemed to have failed to comply with the obligations stipulated in the natural gas contract, and the validity of the contract will be revoked. termination.

In addition, Russia’s 2023 weapons production plan was completed in November, which includes the content required to complete the “special military operations” mission.

Putin File Map

Putin once said, "The disintegration of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century."

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows that Putin is using his actions to show the world that Russia, as the successor state of the Soviet Union, must regain its lost territory in order to restore Russia's dignity.