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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of "following the devil" and waging a war to ensure that its President Vladimir Putin remains in power "until the end of his life."
Zelenskyy switched to speaking Russian in his nightly address on Saturday to send a message to the Kremlin and Russian citizens, as Moscow launched a series of deadly strikes that swept several regions of Ukraine ahead of New Year.
"All this war that you are waging, you – Russia, it is not the war with NATO, as your propagandists lie," Zelenskyy said.
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"It is not for something historical. It's for one person to remain in power until the end of his life.
"And what will be with all of you, citizens of Russia, does not concern him," he added.
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Zelenskyy said "Russian leader is hiding behind the troops, behind missiles, behind the walls of his residences and palaces" and behind his people.
"He hides behind you and burns your country and your future. No one will ever forgive you for terror," Zelenskyy emphasised.
Zelenskyy said: "most of the Russian missiles intercepted by air defense forces".
"If it were not for air defense, the number of casualties would have been different. Much bigger," he stressed.
"And this is yet another proof for the world that support for Ukraine must be increased."
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal earlier said Moscow wants to cause darkness and leave the country "in the dark for the New Year".
Moscow intends to "intimidate, leave us in the dark for the new year, cause as much damage to civilian infrastructure as possible," Shmyhal said on Telegram.
"There are attacks on civilian infrastructure in different regions of our country. Residential buildings, hotel, (a) shop, place for festivals were damaged. There are dead and injured," he wrote.
"Russians want to intimidate, leave us in the dark for the New Year, cause as much damage to civilian infrastructure as possible."
Russian shelling in recent weeks targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine has left much of the country without access to heat and power, amid a harsh winter season.
Ukraine hit by fresh Russian missiles on New Year's Day
Ukrainians had a grim start to 2023 on Sunday, with yet more sirens and fresh missile attacks on their territory, as the death toll from Russia's massive New Year Eve assault across the country climbed to at least three.
Night-time shelling that battered parts of the southern city of Kherson killed one person, wounded another and blew out hundreds of windows in a children's hospital, according to deputy presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old woman injured in a rocket attack in eastern Khmelnytskyi later died of her wounds, the city's mayor Oleksandr Symchyshyn said.
Multiple blasts rocked Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine on Saturday and through the night, injuring dozens, a sign that the pace of Russia attacks had picked up. Ukrainian officials claimed Russia was now deliberately targeting civilians, seeking to create a climate of fear and dent morale.
The blasts came just 36 hours after Russia launched a barrage of missiles on Thursday to damage energy infrastructure facilities, an unusually quickened rhythm that alarmed Ukrainian officials.
First lady Olena Zelenska expressed outrage that such massive missile attacks could come just before New Year's Eve celebrations.
"Ruining lives of others is a disgusting habit of our neighbours," she said.
Air raid sirens were activated following the attacks in Kyiv, where air defenses later repelled 45 Iranian drones.
"On the night of January 1, 2023, the Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made kamikaze drones Shahed-131/136," the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.
"As a result of combat work by the air defense of the Air Force in cooperation with the anti-aircraft defense of other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, 45 attack UAVs were destroyed. 13 in 2022 and 32 in 2023.
"They failed to spoil the holiday for the Ukrainians."
'We will persevere'
Thirty percent of the capital was left without power due to emergency shutdowns, Klitschko said.
"The municipal 'life support system' of the capital is operating normally. Currently, 30% of consumers are without electricity. Due to emergency shutdowns," he said on Telegram.
"Kyiv residents have water and heat," he added.
Klitschko also reported that the restrictions were applied to check the open section of the red metro line in the city "for the presence of remnants of missile debris."
"Specialists are on the way to that area," he said. "We will inform you further about the resumption of traffic on the red line."
Locals in Kyiv told CNN how they planned to spend the New Year in the capital.
"From 2023 I really want to win, and also to have more bright impressions and new emotions. I miss it very much. I also want to travel and open borders. And I also think about personal and professional growth, because one should not stand still. I have to develop and work for the benefit of the country," said Alyona Bogulska, a 29-year-old financier.
"This year, it's a symbol, not that it's a small victory, but a symbol that we survived the year," said Tatiana Tkachuk, a 43-year-old pharmacy employee.
"And I want to thank everyone who helps Ukraine. We've made a lot of friends. And in order to understand that we have a lot of good things, unfortunately, we had to go through terrible things. But so many people are doing real miracles for Ukraine."
Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska said the country "will persevere," following the strikes.
"On New Year's Eve, cities should be covered by wave of celebration, joy and hope. Ukrainian cities are again covered by missile wave from Russia," Zelenska tweeted.
"Ruining lives of others is a disgusting habit of our neighbors. But we will persevere and be even stronger – in spite of everything."
Source: 9News
