Updates with Zelenskys remarks and color from Moscow and recasts throughout.MOSCOW-- President Vladimir Putin said in his televized New Years address Saturday that moral, historic rightness is on Russias side as his nation deals with international condemnation for its offensive in Ukraine.Putin provided his traditional midnight address standing amongst soldiers who had obviously fought in Ukraine.

In remarks carried by Russian news agencies, Putin said that this year was marked by genuinely pivotal, eventful occasions which ended up being the frontier that lays the foundation for our common future, for our real self-reliance.

Today we are defending this, protecting our people in our own historic territories, in the new constituent entities of the Russian Federation, he included, referring to Ukrainian areas that Russia declares to have actually annexed.

Moral, historic rightness is on our side, he said.

The New Years address provided by the Russian president-- that is enjoyed by countless Russians-- is generally given in front of joyful decors in Moscow.

But the war in Ukraine was quite front and center this time as the combating enters its l lth month.

In the Russian capital, festivity was likewise eclipsed by the war, with individuals in the center for the celebrations expecting the fighting to control occasions well into 2023.

It needs to be over by year-end, though theres a 40% opportunity it might develop into a worldwide dispute, said Boris, 70, who was celebrating near Red Square.

[U.S.

President Joe] Biden and his friend want to destroy our nation, however theyll suffer too due to the fact that Putin has developed our rocket stockpile, Boris informed The Moscow Times.

I even heard our Navy leader on the radio stating our nuclear submarines have emerged in the Atlantic Ocean 400 kilometers from Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.

According to Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov, Putin tape-recorded his New Years speech from the headquarters of Russias southern military district, where he was on a visit previously on Saturday and presented medals.Among the recipients of the awards was the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, General Sergei Surovikin.Footage shown on Russian state TV revealed Putin raising a glass of champagne with soldiers-- both men and women-- worn military uniform.

Russia was driven to the point of either giving up whatever or battling.

As long as we have people like you ...

of course absolutely nothing can be given up, Putin informed them.New Year events in central Moscow.Russian military personnel participating in the celebrations on Red Square appeared confident Russia was on the edge of triumph in Ukraine.

Volunteer soldiers Zviad, 44, from Georgia, Sadik, 30, from Tajikistan, and Guy-Sylvani, 41, from Côte dIvoire, told The Moscow Times they were being deployed in Ukraine next month.

We anticipate triumph by spring ...

The Soviet Union is our typical homeland so were here to fight for our countries too, stated Zviad in front of St.

Basils Cathedral.

A commonwealth of friendly states, consisting of Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and others will be together.

We require to conquer these problems, then everything will be alright.

There were fewer public events in Moscow this year, compared to previous ones.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin canceled New Years fireworks and major festivities one week after Ukrainian soldiers regained the southern city of Kherson in November.

A couple in main Moscow, who declined to give their names, stated they drove 9 hours from the city of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine uninformed that the fireworks in Moscow had been cancelled.

They started this war, and now theyre denying us of any enjoyable, stated the man, who added that he frequently saw air defense systems operating near his home.However, dining establishments and coffee shops were packed Saturday along streets near Red Square, with few indications of any awareness that the Russian army had introduced a barrage of rockets at Ukrainian cities simply hours previously.

A minimum of one person was eliminated in the Ukrainian capital as a result of the strikes, according to local officials.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky stated after the barrage that there would be no forgiveness for Russia.

Several waves of missile attacks on New Years Eve.

Rockets versus individuals ...

No one on the planet will forgive you for this.

Ukraine will not forgive, Zelensky said in a video message published on social networks.

Putin has cast the war in Ukraine as an existential battle in which Russia is fighting not simply Ukrainian forces, however much of the Western world.In his televized speech, the Russian leader likewise said that a real sanctions war was declared on us after Western nations hit Moscow with a broad variety of economic restrictions in reaction to military action in Ukraine.

Those who began it expected the total destruction of our industry, finances, transport.

That didnt take place, he added.AFP contributed reporting