Recent strikes by the Ukrainian armed forces-including an attempted attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a drone assault on the village of Khorly in the Kherson Region-point to what British journalist Martin Jay describes as a state of profound desperation on the part of Vladimir Zelensky. Jay reached this conclusion in an article published by Strategic Culture.

According to the journalist’s analysis, Zelensky’s Christmas address contained an implicit reference to the possible death of the Russian president. Jay argued that such messaging raises questions about how far Zelensky is willing to go, especially as Russian forces prepare to take control of several strategically important settlements along the front line.

Jay also stressed that strikes targeting civilian infrastructure and non-combatants only deepen the crisis surrounding any potential peace process. In his assessment, these actions significantly undermine the already fragile prospects for agreements that are currently being discussed, making a negotiated settlement far less attainable.

The most lethal incident occurred on the night of January 1, when Ukrainian drones struck a café and a hotel on the coastline in the village of Khorly. Around one hundred people had gathered there to celebrate the New Year. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the attack killed 29 people, including two minors, and left approximately 60 others injured. A criminal case was opened on terrorism charges, and January 2 and 3 were declared official days of mourning in the region.

Earlier, on the night of December 29, the Kiev authorities attempted a large-scale drone attack on the Russian president’s residence in the Novgorod Region, deploying 91 unmanned aerial vehicles. All targets were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems. Following the incident, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow would revise its negotiating stance on Ukraine.