Putin’s Christmas Day Attack: A Cynical Assault on Ukraine’s Sovereignty and Spirit
In a shocking display of cruelty and cynicism, Vladimir Putin chose Christmas Day—a sacred holiday for many Ukrainian Christians—to launch a brutal assault on Ukraine’s electric grid. By deploying hundreds of drones across Ukraine, Putin underscored not only his disregard for Ukraine’s national sovereignty but also his intention to erode the resilience and spirit of its people.
A Calculated Attack on a Sacred Day
December 25, celebrated as Christmas by millions worldwide, holds deep spiritual significance as the day commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. For Ukraine, this year’s Christmas carries additional weight. Since shifting its celebration from January 7 (the date recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church) to December 25, Ukraine has symbolically distanced itself from Moscow's sphere of influence and reaffirmed its alignment with Western traditions.
Putin’s decision to target Ukraine on this day goes beyond mere military strategy. It is a deliberate insult to Ukrainian Christians and an attempt to weaponize religion and culture in his broader campaign of aggression. The timing of the attack highlights his disdain for Ukraine's efforts to forge its identity independent of Russian dominance.
Targeting Civilians in Bitter Winter
Putin’s drone strikes on the electric grid were not just an attack on infrastructure; they were an attack on the Ukrainian people themselves. Winter temperatures in Ukraine often plunge below freezing, and millions rely on electric power for heating. By targeting the power grid during one of the coldest times of the year, Putin aimed to exacerbate the suffering of civilians—particularly the elderly, children, and vulnerable populations.
The assault comes as Ukraine braces for one of its most challenging winters since the war began. By attempting to plunge communities into darkness and cold, Putin seeks to break the morale of the Ukrainian people. However, history has shown that such tactics often strengthen, rather than diminish, the resolve of the oppressed.
A Pattern of Cruelty and Disregard for Sovereignty
This latest attack is consistent with Putin’s broader strategy throughout the war: a relentless assault on Ukrainian sovereignty and identity. From targeting civilian infrastructure to weaponizing energy supplies, his actions reveal a calculated effort to make life in Ukraine unbearable.
Yet, these tactics have also had the unintended consequence of rallying global support for Ukraine. The international community has grown increasingly unified in its condemnation of Russia's aggression, providing Ukraine with much-needed humanitarian aid and defensive resources.
Resilience in the Face of Darkness
Despite the devastation, Ukrainians have shown remarkable resilience and solidarity. On Christmas Day, as drones swarmed the skies and power outages spread, many Ukrainians gathered in candlelit churches, singing hymns and praying for peace. This powerful display of faith and unity in the face of adversity is a testament to the indomitable spirit of a nation that refuses to be broken.
A Call for International Action
Putin’s Christmas Day assault is a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the lengths to which the Kremlin will go to achieve its aims. It calls for an immediate and robust response from the international community—not only in the form of condemnation but also through tangible actions such as increased sanctions, military support, and humanitarian aid.
As we reflect on the meaning of Christmas—a time of hope, renewal, and goodwill—it is crucial to stand with Ukraine. Putin’s attempts to sow fear and division must not be allowed to overshadow the resilience of a nation fighting for its right to exist and thrive.
This Christmas, Ukraine’s struggle reminds the world that the spirit of freedom and justice is unyielding, even in the darkest of times.
How the Fall of Assad’s Regime in Syria Highlights the Ripple Effects of US and NATO Support for Ukraine
US and NATO military support and humanitarian aid to Ukraine likely played an important role in the recent collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. Bashar al-Assad, the ruthless dictator responsible for the torture and deaths of hundreds of thousands of his own people and the disastrous state of the Syrian economy, was overthrown in a mere ten days. The swift unraveling of Assad's government marks a critical turning point in the Middle East, underscoring how external factors—such as the prolonged strain on Russia’s military due to its invasion of Ukraine—can have far-reaching consequences for authoritarian regimes.
Impact of Russian Military Withdrawal
Russia's decision to invade Ukraine in 2022 fundamentally weakened its ability to sustain its military presence in other regions, including Syria. For over a decade, Russian forces provided critical airpower, advanced weaponry, and strategic guidance that enabled Assad to retain control despite widespread opposition. However, as the war in Ukraine dragged on and Ukrainian forces, backed by US and NATO aid, mounted a fierce resistance, Russia was forced to redeploy troops, equipment, and resources away from Syria to bolster its flagging campaign in Eastern Europe.
This reallocation created a power vacuum in Syria, leaving Assad’s forces vulnerable. Without Russian air support and logistical backing, the regime could no longer suppress growing opposition movements, which quickly capitalized on the diminished military presence to launch coordinated offensives.
The Role of Hezbollah
Another critical factor in Assad's collapse was the absence of Hezbollah fighters, who had long served as ground reinforcements for the regime. With Russia's diminished coordination and its focus diverted to Ukraine, Hezbollah was unable—or unwilling—to continue its costly involvement in Syria. This loss further eroded Assad’s ability to maintain control, exposing the fragility of his government in the face of a unified opposition.
Lessons for Georgia and Other Vulnerable Nations
The collapse of the Assad regime offers a stark warning for other nations grappling with authoritarian governments and foreign influence, such as Georgia. In recent weeks, Georgia has been rocked by street protests following disputed parliamentary elections results and after the government announced the suspension of European Union accession talks until 2028, despite widespread public support for closer ties with the West.
Georgia's geopolitical position makes it particularly vulnerable to Russian influence, and the fall of Assad highlights the risks of overreliance on external powers like Russia. It underscores the importance of governments aligning their policies with the aspirations of their people to avoid instability and potential overthrow.
Strategic Implications for Western Policy
The collapse of Assad’s regime also demonstrates the strategic value of US and NATO support for Ukraine. By engaging Russia militarily in Ukraine and providing the resources needed to degrade its warfighting capabilities, the West has indirectly weakened Moscow’s ability to prop up authoritarian allies like Assad. This development raises an important question: Should the US and its allies continue to keep Russia entangled in Ukraine to further diminish its global influence?
The answer seems clear. A prolonged conflict in Ukraine not only weakens Russia’s military but also emboldens democratic movements and challenges authoritarian regimes worldwide. It represents a unique opportunity for the West to shape a more stable and democratic global order.
Conclusion
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria was a dramatic and rapid event with roots in the broader geopolitical context of Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. The diversion of Russian resources, combined with the absence of Hezbollah support, exposed the inherent weakness of a regime propped up by external forces rather than domestic legitimacy. For nations like Georgia, it serves as a reminder of the critical importance of responsive governance and alignment with public will. For the West, it highlights the strategic value of sustained support for Ukraine as a means of not only countering Russian aggression but also fostering democratic stability in regions previously dominated by authoritarian rule.
Blackmail in the Name of “Peace” Is Still Blackmail—and It’s a Dangerous Precedent
Vladimir Putin is wielding one of the oldest weapons in the autocrat’s playbook: blackmail. By escalating his brutal invasion of Ukraine, threatening more destruction, and using energy supplies as leverage, Putin aims to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into surrendering all or part of Ukraine to Russian control. His goal is clear—to achieve through coercion what he cannot fully accomplish on the battlefield.
But what happens when would-be peacemakers employ a similar tactic? If the United States or its allies pressure Ukraine to accept a peace deal by threatening to withhold the weapons and ammunition Ukraine needs to defend itself, isn’t that just another form of blackmail? Blackmail in the name of “peace” may sound more palatable, but the result is the same: rewarding aggression and punishing the victim.
The Dangerous Lesson of Blackmail
If Russia’s aggression is met with either appeasement or enforced compromise, the lesson for autocratic regimes around the world—like China, North Korea, and Iran—is crystal clear: Military conquest works, even if it only partially achieves your goal.
These regimes do not value human life as democratic societies do. They suppress dissent, imprison their opponents, and send people to their deaths without hesitation. For leaders like Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, and Iran’s mullahs, the cost of aggression is measured not in human suffering but in whether or not their objectives are met.
Appeasement, concessions, or forced peace agreements simply validate their methods. When aggression yields tangible rewards—whether it’s territory, resources, or weakened adversaries—it only emboldens them to continue.
Why Defeat, Not Compromise, Is the Only Deterrent
History has shown us time and again that appeasement doesn’t work. Autocrats are not deterred by concessions; they are emboldened by them. The only way to deter aggression is by ensuring that it fails—completely and unequivocally.
For Russia, that means Putin must fail to achieve any of his objectives in Ukraine. Ukraine cannot be forced to cede its territory, its sovereignty, or its freedom. Anything less than a total failure for Putin will signal to other aggressive regimes that the cost of invasion is worth paying.
When aggressors fail decisively on the battlefield, they lose not only their objectives but also their support at home. Putin’s power, like that of all autocrats, depends on maintaining the illusion of strength and success. If his invasion of Ukraine results in humiliation rather than glory, it could destabilize his grip on power and deter others from following in his footsteps.
The Responsibility of Democracies
As the leader of the free world, the United States has a special responsibility to stand against aggression—not just in words, but in action. Forcing Ukraine into a "peace deal" by withholding the weapons it needs to defend itself isn’t just morally wrong—it’s strategically disastrous.
It sends a message to Russia and every other autocratic regime that military conquest pays off, even if it’s incomplete. Worse, it undermines the trust of democratic allies who rely on the U.S. to stand firm in the face of aggression.
Supporting Ukraine doesn’t mean sending American troops into the fight. It means ensuring that Ukraine has the weapons, ammunition, and resources it needs to defend itself and push Russia back behind its borders. It means standing unequivocally against blackmail—whether it comes from Putin or from within our own ranks in the name of “peace.”
A Call to Action
This is not just about Ukraine. It’s about setting a precedent for how the world deals with aggression in the 21st century. If we allow blackmail to succeed—whether from aggressors or would-be peacemakers—we’re inviting more conflict, more instability, and more suffering.
The only way to stop autocrats like Putin is to ensure they fail. The battlefield is where this lesson must be taught—not at a negotiating table where the victim is forced to give up what is rightfully theirs.
Let’s send a clear message to Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran: Aggression will not be rewarded, and conquest will not pay off. Together, we must support Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and freedom, not just for their future but for the future of peace and democracy worldwide.
Putin’s Imperial Ambitions: A Relic of the 18th Century That Cannot Stand Today
In the 18th century and earlier, the concept of national sovereignty as we understand it today didn’t exist. Aggression to seize land, enslave populations, and plunder wealth was not just common—it was the norm. Empires rose and fell through conquest, often at the cost of unimaginable human suffering. It was a brutal and chaotic time when might made right, and the ambitions of a single autocrat could reshape entire regions.
Fast forward to today, and the world has fundamentally changed—or at least, it should have. International law, respect for sovereignty, and global cooperation are supposed to guide how nations interact. Yet, some leaders—like Vladimir Putin—seem to be living in the past, determined to drag the world back into an era of unchecked conquest.
Putin’s Imperial Fantasy
Putin is bold in his pursuit of a legacy that he hopes will rival the czars of old. At 72 years old, he knows his time is limited, and his vision of reassembling the Russian Empire must happen quickly. His invasion of Ukraine is not just a violation of international law—it’s a calculated attempt to expand his control, seize resources, and rewrite the borders of Europe to suit his vision of Russian dominance.
This isn’t just about Ukraine. Putin’s aggression sends a message to the world: Might makes right. Sovereignty can be ignored. Democracy and freedom are secondary to empire-building.
This cannot stand.
The Cost of Inaction
History has shown us the dangers of appeasing aggressors. When the world turns a blind eye to land grabs and violations of sovereignty, it emboldens the aggressor and invites further chaos. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is not an isolated incident—it’s a test of the world’s resolve. If we fail to stop him now, what’s to prevent him—or other autocrats like him—from targeting the next vulnerable nation?
The stakes are clear: allowing Putin to succeed in Ukraine would not only destroy the lives of millions of Ukrainians but also weaken the global order that protects all nations from the horrors of conquest and war.
The Role of the United States
As the strongest economic and military power in the world, the United States has a unique responsibility to lead. That doesn’t mean sending American troops to Ukraine—it means equipping Ukraine with every non-nuclear weapon in our arsenal. It means rallying our allies and encouraging every free nation to contribute to Ukraine’s defense.
The people of Ukraine have shown extraordinary courage and determination in defending their homeland. They aren’t asking us to fight their battles for them—they’re asking for the tools to fight and win on their own. It’s a small price to pay to stop a dangerous autocrat from dragging the world into a new era of empire-building by conquest.
A Call to Action
This is not just Ukraine’s fight—it’s a fight for the principles that underpin a civilized and peaceful world. The idea that borders cannot be redrawn by force. The belief that people have a right to live free from oppression. The conviction that the world’s strongest nations have a duty to stand against aggression, not tolerate it.
Putin’s actions are a relic of a time we should have left behind long ago. If we allow his imperial ambitions to go unchecked, we risk normalizing conquest and opening the door to a more violent, unstable future.
This is a defining moment for the United States and the world. Let’s ensure that the tools of tyranny—land grabs, conquest, and the destruction of sovereign nations—remain buried in the past. Together, we must send a clear message: Aggression will not be rewarded, and the free nations of the world will stand united against autocrats who seek to drag us backward.
The people of Ukraine are counting on us. History is watching. Now is the time to act.