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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered a defiant message of hope to his people this Christmas, vowing to never back down as his nation remains under siege from Russia. 

In an address to the nation to mark Christmas Eve, Zelensky urged his compatriots to persevere through a tough winter despite the absence of dead or exiled loved ones, power cuts, destruction and the threat of shelling.

Earlier on Christmas Eve, Vladimir Putin-ordered shelling left at least 10 dead and 55 injured in Kherson city, as Zelensky condemned the ‘terror’ of the attack. 

In his address to the nation, the President said: ‘Tears will be replaced by joy, despair will be followed by hope, and death will be conquered by life.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered a defiant message of hope to his people this Christmas, vowing to never back down as his nation remains under siege from Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered a defiant message of hope to his people this Christmas, vowing to never back down as his nation remains under siege from Russia

In an address to the nation to mark Christmas Eve, Zelensky urged his compatriots to persevere through a tough winter despite the absence of dead or exiled loved ones

In an address to the nation to mark Christmas Eve, Zelensky urged his compatriots to persevere through a tough winter despite the absence of dead or exiled loved ones

‘We will celebrate our holidays! As always. We will smile and be happy. As always. The difference is one: we will not wait for a miracle, we create it ourselves.’

On the day marking 10 months since the start of the Russian invasion, shells rained around a busy market and started a fire in the southern port city which Kyiv’s forces recaptured in November.

Hours before Zelensky’s address, 10 people were killed and 55 injured in Kherson city as a result of Russian shelling.

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Despite Russia’s retreat from the southern port city in November, Kherson remains within reach of Moscow’s weaponry and under constant threat.

For many Ukrainians, Christmas this year will be celebrated in the dark and cold, with constant fear of Russian attacks.

Historically, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine had celebrated Christmas on January 7, like in Russia.

However, in an attempt to further separate itself from the enemy, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has allowed parishes to celebrate Christmas on December 25 along with most of the western world. 

Zelensky said: 'Today and all future winter holidays we meet in difficult circumstances'

Zelensky said: ‘Today and all future winter holidays we meet in difficult circumstances’

On the day marking ten months since the beginning of the war, a string of shelling rained down around a busy Saturday market in Kherson, where a fire erupted

On the day marking ten months since the beginning of the war, a string of shelling rained down around a busy Saturday market in Kherson, where a fire erupted

In his address to the nation, the President said: 'Tears will be replaced by joy, despair will be followed by hope, and death will be conquered by life'

In his address to the nation, the President said: ‘Tears will be replaced by joy, despair will be followed by hope, and death will be conquered by life’

Zelensky said: ‘Today and all future winter holidays we meet in difficult circumstances.  

‘Someone will celebrate the holiday in other people’s homes, but strange people’s homes – homes… who gave shelter to Ukrainians. 

‘Someone will hear Shchedryk in another language – in Warsaw, Berlin, London, New York, Toronto and many other cities and countries. And someone will meet this Christmas in captivity.

‘Let them remember that we are also coming for our people, we will return freedom to all Ukrainian men and women.

‘Wherever we are, we will be together today. We make a wish. One for all. And we will feel joy. One for all. And we will understand the truth. One for all.’

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Zelensky also shared a message on Telegram on Saturday condemning the latest Russian attack.

He called the attack ‘terror… killing for the sake of intimidation and pleasure’.

‘It is the real life of Ukraine… The world must see and understand what absolute evil we are fighting against,’ he said.

Sixty-six cars caught fire in a residential area of the city due to the shelling, the emergency services said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted Russian 'terror' on Saturday after Vladimir Putin-ordered shelling left at least five dead and 20 injured in Kherson city

President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted Russian ‘terror’ on Saturday after Vladimir Putin-ordered shelling left at least five dead and 20 injured in Kherson city

AFP journalists at the scene saw several bodies laying on the ground, including a man killed in his car near the market

AFP journalists at the scene saw several bodies laying on the ground, including a man killed in his car near the market

The fires were put out after 40 minutes but the number of dead and injured was still being “established”, they said on Telegram.

It comes as Pope Francis spoke of the injustice of war and denounced ‘a world ravenous for money, power and pleasure’ after arriving to the Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in his wheelchair on Saturday night. 

Earlier on Christmas Eve, Russian state media put out their own bizzare video message, warning freezing Europeans they will be reduced to eating their pets next year if they continue to support Ukraine.

It comes after Putin finally referred to his brutal invasion of Ukraine as a ‘war’ – breaking his own law against the use of the word. 

Previously, the Russian tyrant had always labelled the bloody ten-month conflict a ‘special military operation’ and banned any reference to the true nature of his campaign.

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Thousands of Russians have been punished, with some jailed and others fined, for describing the invasion as a ‘war’ – and now opposition leaders are demanding that Putin faces the same treatment.

Putin has finally referred to his brutal invasion of Ukraine as a 'war', breaking his own law

Putin has finally referred to his brutal invasion of Ukraine as a ‘war’, breaking his own law

Speaking to journalists, Putin said: ‘Our goal is not to unwind this flywheel of a military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war.

‘We strive for this and will strive for it.’

His comments appeared to hint at a desire to stop the conflict, but Ukraine and his Russian foes fear it is a trick.

Much of Ukraine is struggling without heat or power in sub-zero temperatures after Moscow started targeting electricity and water systems nearly two months ago.

The UN’s human rights chief has warned the campaign has inflicted “extreme hardship” on Ukrainians this winter, and also decried probable war crimes by Russian forces.

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