- Title: Ukrainian soldiers at trenches of eastern frontline celebrate New Year
- Date: 1st January 2023
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) PAVLO PRYZHEHODSKIY, 27, SOLDIER AND MUSICIAN, SAYING: "It is sad that instead of meeting friends, celebrating, and giving gifts to one another people were forced to seek shelter, some were killed. I just learned that some of our soldiers were killed on the frontline today, someone was killed in Kyiv, too. This is sad, it is very sad. It is a huge tragedy. It is a huge tragedy that cannot ever be forgiven. That is why this New Year's Eve is sad."
- Embargoed: 15th January 2023 09:52
- Keywords: New Year's Eve Ukraine frontline
- Location: DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE
- City: DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA003979401012023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ukrainian soldiers at the trenches of the eastern frontline welcomed the New Year with sadness and resolve, remembering the fallen and vowing to fight till victory.
Marking the first New Year's Eve since the start of the war that has claimed thousands of lives, caused widespread destruction, and plunged the world into crisis, soldiers of the Ukrainian army's 68th Brigade remembered comrades and loved ones killed and injured in the conflict.
Fighting back tears, Oleh Zahrodsky a 49-year-old soldier at a frontline in the Donetsk region, spoke of his son fighting for life after a head injury.
"Brain injury, swelling, and inflammation of the brain. In the hospital in Dnipro," said Zahrodsky who volunteered to follow his mobilised son into the army.
Bombardments and air raids marked the start of the New Year for Ukraine as Russia continued intense attacks on the country on New Year's Day, following a barrage of missiles fired on New Year's Eve.
"It is sad that instead of meeting friends, celebrating and giving gifts to one another people were forced to seek shelter, some were killed," Pavlo Pryzhehodskiy, a serviceman of the 68th Brigade said.
Pryzhehodskiy, a musician in civilian life, marked the New Year celebrations with a performance of a song he composed and dedicated to twelve members of his unit who were killed in a single night.
"This is sad, it is very sad. It is a huge tragedy. It is a huge tragedy that cannot ever be forgiven," he said echoing the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in his New Year address.
"It's impossible to forget. And it's impossible to forgive. But it's possible to win," Zelenskiy said.
A few minutes after Zelenskiy's speech of gratitude and unity - released just before midnight Kyiv time on New Year's Eve - numerous blasts were heard in the capital and around the country.
As sirens blared for over four hours in Kyiv, some people shouted from their balconies, "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!" Reuters witnesses reported.
Frontline soldiers shared their people's and their president's resolve to fight until victory.
"Ukraine is a nation of invincible people... Ukraine is a relatively small nation it practically defends half of the world, Taras Lukinchuk, commander of the 68th brigade said.
(Production; Herbert Villarraga, Anna Dabrowska) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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