President Vladimir Putin has said in his New Year's address that "moral, historical rightness" is on Russia's side as his country faces international condemnation for its offensive in Ukraine.
As Russian regions in the far east rung in the New Year, the Russian leader delivered his traditional midnight address standing among soldiers who fought in Ukraine, according to Russian news agencies.
Mr Putin said in remarks carried by news agencies that this year was marked by "truly pivotal, fateful events" which became "the frontier that lays the foundation for our common future, for our true independence".
"Today we are fighting for this, protecting our people in our own historical territories, in the new constituent entities of the Russian Federation," he added, referring to Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed to have annexed.
"Moral, historical rightness is on our side," he said.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin delivered his New Year's speech from the headquarters of Russia's southern military district, where he was on a visit earlier today and presented awards to servicemen.
Among the recipients of the awards was Russia's commander in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin, Russian news agencies said.
Following Mr Putin's speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky predicted victory in the war against Russia next year, saying it would come through hard work rather than miracles, as well as aid from foreign partners.
"Today there is only one wish. And it will come true not by a miracle but through our work, our struggle, mutual aid and humanity," he said. "Happy new year! The year of our victory."
He alluded to repeated Russian strikes that have smashed the power-generating system, saying light could be found in everyone, even when there was no electricity.
Mr Zelensky remained defiant in an emotional speech in which he heaped praise on all those people involved in the war in Ukraine.
"I want to say to all of you: Ukrainians, you are incredible! See what we have done and what we are doing! How our soldiers have been smashing this 'second army of the world' since the first days.
"How our people stopped their equipment and infantry columns...There are no small matters in a great war," he said.
"There are no unnecessary ones. Each of us is a fighter. Each of us is a front. Each of us is the basis of the defense.
"We fight as one team -- the whole country, all our regions. I admire you all. I want to thank every invincible region of Ukraine."
Earlier today Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia's victory in Ukraine is "inevitable" in a New Year's message to servicemen.
"In the coming year, I want to wish everyone good health, fortitude, reliable and devoted comrades... Our victory, like the New Year, is inevitable," Mr Shoigu said in the video address released by the defence ministry.
Mr Shoigu said that in the outgoing year "we all faced serious trials" and that the New Year comes during a "difficult military-political situation".
Russia sent troops into pro-Western Ukraine on 24 February, saying it was protecting the Russian-speaking population in the east from an alleged genocide by the Ukrainian authorities.
Russia's troops have suffered a string of setbacks on the ground over the past months with the Kremlin in September announcing the mobilisation of 300,000 reservists to join the fighting.
"The outgoing year will forever enter the military chronicle of the Fatherland, filled with your immortal deeds, selfless courage and heroism in the fight against neo-Nazism and terrorism," Mr Shoigu said.
"We will always remember our comrades who sacrificed themselves while performing combat missions in the name of saving civilians from genocide and violence only for the right to speak Russian," he added.
Mr Shoigu said that those celebrating the New Year, a major holiday in Russia and many ex-Soviet countries, on duty are "heroically fulfilling combat missions to protect the national interests and security of Russia".
