President Volodymyr Zelensky used his Christmas message to frame the holiday as a moment of collective belief shaped by war. Referring to long-standing tradition, he said that “since ancient times, Ukrainians believed that on Christmas night, the heavens open,” and that spoken wishes are heard. Against that backdrop, he said Ukrainians now share “one dream” and “one wish for everyone,” adding the blunt line: “May he perish,” which he described as something “everyone says to themselves.”

The phrasing linked religious imagery to the experience of a country under sustained attack. Zelensky did not elaborate on targets or individuals in the address, instead situating the line within a broader appeal for peace and endurance rooted in faith and shared sentiment.

“May he perish”

In the same message, Zelensky contrasted Christmas symbolism with events on the eve of the holiday. “On the eve of Christmas, the Russians once again showed who they truly are,” he said, before listing the scale and types of weapons used. “Massive shelling, hundreds of Shaheds, ballistics, Kinzhals—everything was there.” The enumeration underscored both volume and variety, with “hundreds” marking the scale of the attack.

He followed the description with moral language. “This is how the godless strike,” Zelensky said. “This is what those who have absolutely nothing in common with Christianity or anything human do.” The remarks framed the attacks not only as acts of war but as violations of religious and human norms tied to the Christmas period.

Unity Despite Distance

Zelensky’s message returned repeatedly to unity across geography. He spoke of Ukrainians celebrating together despite separation, displacement, or danger, emphasizing that shared belief and timing mattered more than physical proximity. Christmas night and Christmas Eve were presented as common reference points binding people across the country.

The address avoided operational detail beyond the reference to weapons systems, instead stressing continuity of identity. By pairing ancient belief, present-day attacks, and a shared wish articulated in stark language, Zelensky positioned Christmas as both a spiritual marker and a measure of collective resolve under fire.