Status: 01/01/2023 04:10 a.m
Ukraine is experiencing its first New Year under martial law. Nevertheless, people in the country try to celebrate as much as possible. Their president encouraged them.
The new year began in Kyiv as the old end had gone: at half past twelve the sirens wailed, there was a crash and there was a nationwide air raid.
New Year’s Eve in Ukraine was different this year. Martial law is in force, mass gatherings and fireworks are prohibited and curfews are not lifted. Point 12 toast publicly on streets or squares – that didn’t exist. Nevertheless, the new year was welcomed. To avoid curfew, some simply rented a room and stayed the night.
People celebrated at the Christmas tree on Sophienplatz in Kyiv until closing time.
Image: REUTERS
A little distraction from the war
There were concerts and theater performances, and children were given white doves of peace pressed on their arms at the Christmas tree on Sophienplatz. Veronika Kulehina came with her children.
The shock of the Russian attacks on New Year’s Eve was still in the bones of the 42-year-old: “I assume that’s how they want to congratulate us on the New Year, although it’s very difficult,” she says. “I no longer have the strength to put my children through these attacks. We were very close to the first explosion and it’s very scary.”
Fear of what 2023 will bring
In the Donbas around Bakhmut, the war is raging particularly bloodily, and the Russian army is still occupying parts of Ukraine. Serhej from Rivne in western Ukraine looks bleakly into the new year: “As early as 2022, my life consisted primarily of war, and this war for peace is continuing,” he believes.
“It’s a great tragedy for Ukraine, and it was also a very difficult year for me personally,” reports Serhey. “I was mobilized in September and I’m doing radio operator training in Kyiv. It’s the first time that I’ve been in the army, even though I was a reservist, and New Year’s Eve is really very difficult for me because I’ve never experienced anything like it. “
The physicist is stationed in Cherkasy and sure that Ukraine will defeat Russia. He thinks like a little more than 90 percent of the people in the country. This is shown by a survey by the renowned Razumkow Institute.
Selenskyj wants to give courage
In his 18-minute New Year’s speech, Ukrainian President Zelensky also pointed to this: 2022 began with the Russian invasion on February 24 at four in the morning, when the first rockets destroyed the labyrinth of illusions.
“It was dark, it was loud, it was hard for many and scary for some. 311 days have passed since then,” Zelenskyj said. “It can still be dark, loud and complicated for us, but we will never be afraid again – and never again be ashamed. It was our year. The year of Ukraine, the year of Ukrainians.”
Zelensykj thanked all people in society and the country’s allies for their support. He reminded of suffering and bombing – also of children, of Russian-occupied places like Melitopol or cities in the Donbass and liberated places like Cherson or Isjum. 2023 should be a year of return for Ukrainians, home from abroad, from Russian captivity back to their families, from the war of aggression to normal life.
“Dear Ukrainians, I would like to wish all of us one thing – Victory. May the New Year bring it like this. We are ready to fight for it,” said Zelenskyy. “That’s why each of us is here. I am here. We are here. You are here. Everyone is here. We are all Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine – Happy New Year.”