Zelensky calls for Putin to ‘die’ in his Christmas address

Zelensky calls for Putin to ‘die’ in his Christmas address Sarah Hooper Published December 24, 2025 10:23pm Updated December 24, 2025 10:30pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Zelensky posed in front of festive decor (Picture: X)

Christmas is almost here – and as children around the world make wishes for the new year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has shared his.

In his annual Christmas address, the Ukrainian leader spoke of how his country has one dream.

The dream?

‘That Putin may perish,’ he said. ‘Each of us may think privately, but when we turn to God, of course, we ask for more. We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it.’ 

Though a bit morbid, it’s a wish likely shared by most Ukrainians, as the country is about to enter its fourth year of war with Russia.

‘Sadly, not all of us are at home this evening, not all of us still have a home, and not all of us, unfortunately, are with us today,’ he said.

‘Yet despite all the hardships brought by Russia, it is incapable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity. 

Merry Christmas! pic.twitter.com/okj9Yr1bFe

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 24, 2025

‘We are happy when we hear the music of Christmas, but even happier when we do not hear the music of evil, when we do not hear drones and missiles flying overhead.’

On Christmas Eve, Putin unleashed yet another attack with shelling, drones, and missiles – something the President called ‘godless’.

‘This is what those who have absolutely nothing in common with Christianity or with anything human do,’ Zelensky added.

Just days ago, Russian forces are said to have abducted 50 Ukrainian civilians from a border village in a ‘barbaric’ raid likened to mass terrorist kidnappings.

Putin’s troops allegedly crossed into the northern Sumy region before ‘kidnapping’ the group of mainly elderly women.  

The civilians were then taken across the border into Russia, according to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. 

Ukraine has been at war ever since Russia illegally invaded in 2022 (Picture: Getty)

The group, including an 89-year-old woman, are apparently being held without contact and with their present whereabouts unknown. 

Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, dubbed the raid ‘medieval’ and likened it to Boko Haram or ISIS’s mass kidnappings of civilians. 

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On X, Mr Sybiha wrote: ‘Russian invaders have stolen five dozen civilian people, mostly elderly women, from a tiny Ukrainian village Hrabovske right across the state border in the Sumy region.  

‘With such medieval raids, Putin’s Russia shows it is no different from terrorist groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, or Hamas.

‘We demand our civilian hostages to be returned home.’ 

Mr Sybiha also referenced the ‘thousands’ of other Ukrainian civilians who have been forcibly deported to Russia, including children.   

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