‘Thank those who are in the Defense Forces’, – president Zelensky
Source: president Volodymyr Zelensky on Facebook
On December 25, in an evening video address, president Volodymyr Zelensky once again wished everyone a Merry Christmas. He stressed that on this Christmas Eve, it is important to say about those who are ‘at any time of the day, night, holidays, are on duty, at combat posts, in battle, in defense of Ukraine’.
Zelensky reminded that on the Christmas Eve, Ukrainian air defense shot down almost 30 attack drones, several missiles, and two Russian combat jets.
‘Thank you! Every Russian pilot must make a clear choice for himself whether to participate further in this war. Our air defense will only become stronger. Especially when we get the additional systems already agreed upon and the F-16,’ the president said.
The head of state expressed his gratitude to each employee of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. He especially noted the rescuers from Kherson, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions.
He also thanked the energy engineers who, despite constant Russian strikes, provided Ukraine with a bright Christmas.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.