As the world prepared to welcome 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin used his annual New Year's Eve address to deliver a strong message of support to his forces engaged in the conflict in Ukraine. Speaking from the Kamchatka peninsula, the first part of Russia to enter the new year, Putin directly addressed the military personnel involved in what he called a special military operation.
New Year's Message of Support and Confidence
In his televised speech, a tradition dating back to the Soviet era, President Putin called on all Russian citizens to rally behind the troops. "We believe in you and our victory," he declared to the soldiers and commanders. He emphasized that millions of Russians across the vast nation were thinking of them as they performed their duties.
This public show of confidence comes as the conflict approaches its fourth year, having begun in February 2022. The human cost remains severe, with independent estimates suggesting military casualties on both sides number in the tens or even hundreds of thousands. The timing of the speech was also symbolic, as December 31 marked the 26th anniversary of Putin's first day in office, following Boris Yeltsin's resignation on New Year's Eve 1999.
Military Commanders Outline Buffer Zone Strategy
Separately from the presidential address, Russia's top military commander provided specific updates on the ground. General Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, instructed troops to continue establishing defensive "buffer zones" within Ukraine's northeastern regions.
During a visit to a command post of the "North" military grouping, Gerasimov stated the objective was to protect Russian border regions, specifically Kursk and Belgorod, from Ukrainian attacks. He claimed Russian forces had already taken control of roughly 950 square kilometres across Ukraine's Sumy and Kharkiv provinces, encompassing 32 settlements.
The Russian Defence Ministry did not disclose the exact date or location of Gerasimov's remarks. Reuters news agency noted it could not independently verify the territorial claims made by the general.
Ukrainian Condemnation and Vows of Resistance
The strategy of creating buffer zones inside Ukrainian territory has been met with fierce condemnation from Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities have consistently described these actions as a pretext for further illegal annexation of their land.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has previously characterized Moscow's plans for Sumy and Kharkiv as "mad" and pledged that Ukraine would resist any such incursions. The concept of these zones gained prominence in the Russian military discourse after a significant Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region in August 2024, which was eventually repelled after months of intense fighting.
President Putin had reaffirmed the importance of these buffer zones during a Kremlin meeting just two days prior, on December 29, indicating that the work to establish them would continue into 2026. The developments underscore a continued focus on territorial consolidation and defensive posturing as the conflict enters another year with no clear diplomatic resolution in sight.
