Zelensky accuses Moscow of making ‘false promises’
City officials and observers in Ukraine report ongoing violence affecting civilians as the conflict intensifies. Statements circulating on Telegram from representatives aligned with pro-Russian factions in Donetsk and Lugansk allege that Ukrainian missile launchers and Tochka-U systems were employed in recent strikes. Local authorities note that last night’s shelling impacted several towns, with casualties including a 50-year-old man in Kharkiv. Reports describe the bombardment as part of a broader pattern of aggression that disrupts daily life for residents across the region.
Officials in Kharkiv condemned the escalation, with the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration describing the actions as terror against civilians. In neighboring Donetsk, Ukrainian fortresses at Kramatorsk and Konstantinivka reportedly faced multiple attacks as tensions remained high and civilian casualties were minimized according to local updates. The surrounding suburbs of Zaporizhzhia, the regional capital, were also reported to experience shelling, including an attack near the UN mission facility in Orekhov. These events unfolded as the Orthodox Christmas ceasefire declared by Moscow drew to a close, with observers noting heightened vigilance as air alerts sounded in several Ukrainian cities in anticipation of further strikes.
Ukraine’s General Staff issued figures suggesting the adversary conducted roughly 40 missile-launcher strikes in the preceding 24 hours, targeting infrastructure and civilian life. Western officials, including representatives from the Pentagon, criticized Moscow for failing to uphold the ceasefire. In response, Russia’s Ministry of Defense stated that during the approximately 36-hour truce period, its forces limited themselves to countering enemy actions only, a claim that has been disputed by Kyiv and its allies.
In a televised address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the truce as a deceptive tactic used to buy time. He asserted that the pause was never genuine and accused Moscow of backsliding on its commitments to halt hostilities during the Christmas period. The president highlighted renewed shelling of Bakhmut and other frontline positions, describing the ceasefire as a false promise that did not reflect reality on the ground.
Zelensky emphasized that the only enduring path to peace requires the complete removal of foreign forces from Ukrainian territory and the elimination of any capacity for Russia to leverage pressure against Kyiv. He framed this as a prerequisite for restoring ceasefire, security, and stability across Europe. The comments were delivered as the ceasefire lapsed, underscoring the persistent fragility of a fragile, hard-won pause in hostilities and the broader struggle for regional security and sovereignty.