cruise december 26th 2023

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TIS THE SEASON FOR ADVENTURE

Holiday cruises.

Fill the December holidays with tropical, action-packed days and unforgettable memories. Start a new tradition with the biggest holiday cruise celebration at sea.

This year, spend the holidays in a warm winter wonderland with your favorite holiday traditions — plus some epic new ones — onboard the world’s boldest ships. Bring everyone together for Thanksgiving memory-making that the whole family will be grateful for. Sailings in December keep magical Christmas celebrations dancing through your head. And it all culminates in the hottest New Year’s Eve party at sea. So get onboard and deck the holidays with us.

EXPLORE AVAILABLE HOLIDAY CRUISES

Enjoy the ultimate holiday celebration with loved ones this festive season.

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MAXED OUT IN NEW TRADITIONS

A holiday at sea is filled with epic new traditions in the making. Onboard, have a blast hanging ten on the FlowRider®* or gasping in awe at a high-diving AquaTheater spectacular. And on shore, you’ll be glad you ditched the cold for extra bold experiences from ATV jungle treks to underwater snorkel discoveries and more.

tropical holiday fun

You don’t need snow for plenty of whoa this December. Choose an island-hopping getaway for winter fun under the sun. All of the best holiday cruises for families spend one glorious day at CocoCay.

DASH THROUGH THE WHOA

It’s the most thrilling time of the year — with exclusive adrenaline-pumping experiences you won’t find on any other cruise line. Try skydiving right on deck, take on The Perfect Storm℠ waterslides and more!

REVELRY AND RIVALRY

Holiday time is family time. Discover incredible ways to take togetherness — and competitive spirit— to new heights. Cheer each other on while scaling the signature Rock Climbing Wall, or see who’s brave enough to plunge down the tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss℠.

PUTTING THE SEA in seasonal favorites

Holidays onboard are decked out with everything you love most about the season. Gather 'round for a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner — without lifting a finger. Wander through a winter wonderland as the Royal Promenade comes alive with Christmas cheer. Ring in the New Year with a massive balloon drop plus sensational beats. And that’s just a taste of the celebrations in store. 

HOME STYLE HOLIDAYS

Pack your appetite — all your favorite flavors of the holiday season are onboard. Savor mouthwatering Thanksgiving staples like oven-roasted turkey and old-fashioned pecan pie. And  Christmas dinner classics, like honey baked ham and homemade sides.

LIGHTING UP THE SEA

Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah, you’ll find your most treasured holiday traditions at sea — with festive tree and menorah lighting ceremonies on every sailing in December.

NEW WAYs TO NEW YEAR

Ring in the new year with an enchanting countdown to the massive balloon drop. Plus, score an invitation to the hottest New Year’s Eve party at sea, where jam-worthy live music starts the year on just the right note.

STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY BLISS

Need a no-pressure family getaway? A romantic beach adventure for two? Whatever style you're looking to celebrate in, you'll cruise through this year's holiday season stress-free.

FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE

Make sure you stop at  Perfect Day at CocoCay  for an action-packed adventure that everyone will love. Kiddies can splash to their heart's content at Splashaway Bay or head to the swashbuckling Captain Jill's Cannon for the ultimate pirate experience. See who's brave enough to conquer all 13 waterslides at  Thrill Waterpark , or relax along the  Oasis Lagoon . Get the whole family together on a hot air balloon ride and make holiday memories to last a lifetime.

BABY, IT'S NOT COLD OUTSIDE!

All you want for Christmas is a tropical vacation? Get away from holiday pressure and expectations with a romantic December cruise to the Caribbean! Explore local traditions together, swim in secret waterfalls and unwind on powdery Caribbean sands. Romantic beach picnics are just the beginning of your holiday escape.

SPEND THE HOLIDAYS ON THE BOLDEST CRUISE SHIPS AT SEA

Incredible is on the itinerary when you set sail on one of our Oasis Class cruise ships. Get your adrenaline fix with two onboard water slides, a wave park and the only boomerang slide at sea. Dash through the seas and launch into the holiday spirit with themed parties and daily shows. 'Tis the season to indulge! Enjoy one of our specialty restaurants where you'll find traditional favorites and new holiday-themed dishes and delights.

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GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

The ship's crew is there to make sure you have the best holiday cruise. At the start of your voyage, take part in the time-honored tradition of lighting the massive ship's tree. Join Santa's hardest working elves for the ultimate Christmas celebration and a surprise Christmas giveaway. Get up on deck for a festive walk in support of World Wildlife Fund's Arctic programs, presented by Coca-Cola. Decorate your own gingerbread cookies and unleash your creativity with DIY ornament classes.

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Enjoy 75% off your second guest’s cruise fare and get bonus savings of up to $200.

December Cruises

Your most unforgettable holiday season yet.

Escape the winter weather on a luxury December cruise. Spend the holiday season at sea with family, friends, and loved ones on an unforgettable adventure in the sunshine. Head south to New Zealand to explore serene fjords, mountains, vineyards, and laid-back cities. Get close to extraordinary wildlife in the Galapagos, or explore Asia’s dynamic cities coupled with beach time on sun-kissed islands to unwind.

December is the perfect time to visit the Caribbean, too. Snorkel over coral reefs, swim with wild dolphins, admire the candy-colored Dutch architecture of the Southern Caribbean, and even discover the incredible Panama Canal. Embark on a luxurious warm-weather adventure this December with Celebrity Cruises.

Itineraries

Top december cruise destinations.

Enjoy a sunny escape to the Southern Hemisphere, where summer is in full swing. Admire the sweeping natural landscapes of New Zealand on a cruise from Sydney. You could spend both Christmas and New Year’s enjoying the holiday spirit as you explore the coast, visiting the serene beauty of the fiords, Scottish-influenced Dunedin, cosmopolitan Christchurch, and the award-winning wineries at Hawke’s Bay. Spend a day in Auckland, too, before visiting the serene Bay of Islands.

The Galapagos

December cruises to the Galapagos Islands promise an experience unlike any other. Board one of our luxury cruise ships for an all-included vacation to this awe-inspiring island chain. Award-winning excursions are led by expert naturalists who will show you surreal landscapes and unique wildlife up close. Waddle next to blue-footed boobies, wander past scaly iguanas, and marvel at animal species you won’t find anywhere else.

The Bahamas

Bask in the tropical sunshine as you celebrate the holiday season with a luxurious getaway to The Bahamas and Key West. Doze in a hammock on Blue Lagoon Island with an iced rum punch on a day trip from Nassau, or whizz down thrilling water slides at Atlantis on Paradise Island. Snorkel over dazzling corals and the intriguing wreck of the S.S. Sapona off the coast of Bimini, and explore quirky, arty Key West, where you can visit Hemingway’s home and feast on tangy Key lime pie.

Southern Caribbean

Relax in the glorious sunshine of the Southern Caribbean on a December cruise with Celebrity. Swim over sunken wrecks in the crystal-clear waters around Aruba. Stroll the cobbled streets of historic Cartagena, and drift along Martha Brae River in Jamaica under a canopy of green before digging into spicy jerk chicken and a fruity rum punch. Join a holiday cruise to Panama and marvel at the engineering masterpiece of the Panama Canal.

Thailand & Vietnam

Sail between Hong Kong and Singapore on a voyage to some of Asia’s most exciting cities. In Vietnam, visit Ho Chi Minh City, where ancient, incense-scented temples sit against a backdrop of gleaming skyscrapers. In pretty Hoi An, crisscrossed with canals, you could join a cooking class or cycle through the lush countryside. In Bangkok, your time will be filled with gilded palaces, gleaming Buddhas, and bustling markets before heading to Ko Samui’s white-sand beaches.

View All Cruises in December

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Just Released: New Fall 2023 Ports and Itineraries

Caribbean Cruises

Plan your best caribbean cruise vacation.

The sun-kissed shores of the Caribbean are calling. Relax on gorgeous white sand beaches surrounded by crystal clear waters, discover the ancient treasures of the Mayans, or let your cares melt away while relaxing to steel drum melodies. Find the best Caribbean cruises  sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, or Galveston  to suit your vacation desires.

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Eastern Caribbean Cruises

Top-Rated Beaches and Water Play

The laid-back Eastern Caribbean is home to many of the region’s most popular islands — gems like St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Grand Turk. Known for world-famous beaches, stingrays and limitless water activities, this is the perfect option for a sunny Caribbean cruise vacation, reconnecting with loved ones.

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Western Caribbean Cruises

Historic Spots and Natural Wonders

Mayan ruins, exciting eco adventures and the friendly spirit of Jamaica await in the Western Caribbean. Enjoy the lush wildernesses of southern Mexico, unspoiled coral reefs of Belize and Roatan, underground caves on the Island of Cozumel and so much more.

Learn more about Western Caribbean Cruises

Southern Caribbean Cruises

Local Culture and Colonial Past

Cruise options for the Southern Caribbean take you from the lush paradise of Dominica to the remote isles of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. Immerse yourself in traditional Caribbean culture and life on islands that blend their colonial influence with native charms.

Learn more about Southern Caribbean Cruises

Caribbean Getaways

Sun, sand and a short escape.

White sand beaches and coral reefs await on Caribbean Getaway cruises. Soak up some vitamin D on Princess Cays, Princess' Private Island resort, and enjoy watersports or an encounter with stingrays in brilliant turquoise waters. Or explore the colorful buildings and exciting historical sites of Grand Turk. Do it all in just a few days on a short Caribbean cruise.

Learn more about Caribbean Getaways Cruises

Bahamas Cruises

Exclusive island experience.

The Bahamas, a series of islands with sparkling waters and pristine beaches, is a top Caribbean cruise destination. Princess Cays, our Private Island resort, calls the Bahamas its home, and our guests get exclusive access to this tropical oasis on almost all Caribbean itineraries. Get away to the Bahamas for just a few days or during a week-long Caribbean cruise and you’re sure to relax and recharge.

Learn more about Bahamas Cruises

Princess® MedallionClass®

Explore destinations easily on a MedallionClass vacation. Taking in balcony or top deck views, and don’t want to move? Order drinks that find you. Want to make the most of your time away? Design each perfect day with our interactive activity planner. Hate to wait when boarding or disembarking in port? Choose your preferred arrival window and make gangway reservations. Enjoy more time to connect with the places you sail.

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Why Cruise the Caribbean with Princess

We Sail the Caribbean Year-Round

Each season has a personality all its own. Summer is a time for family fun in the sun. Fall invites the adventurous to immerse themselves in the islands. Winter is marked by festivals and other celebrations. Spring is the perfect time for renewal and relaxation. Cruise the Caribbean throughout the year, and you’ll encounter a different side of the Caribbean each time, unified by the distinctive experiences Princess offers.

See Why Families Love the Islands

Social media stars the Holderness Family recently set sail on a Caribbean cruise. Check out the music video to see why a Caribbean vacation with Princess Cruises is more than just a trip!

Want more? See the kids’ vlog of their experiences in Camp Discovery and adventures ashore, and watch the parents tackle cruise myths in their vacation recap.

Princess Cays®, Private Island Resort

Relax on your very own beach playground, where 40 acres of white sands, bungalows, local crafts and a complimentary barbeque await. Snorkel in sparkling turquoise waters. Find serenity fishing from the rocky coastline. Feed stingrays or paddle through the lagoon in a clear-bottom kayak. And you can post your experiences with ease, thanks to Princess’ MedallionNet™, the best Wi-Fi at sea — now on land!

Our Newest Ships Enjoy the Islands

There’s no better way to cruise the Caribbean than on one of the bold, new additions to our fleet. We take travel to the next level: the exceptional features of Sky Suites and the unrivaled service, the glass-enclosed dome and balconies taking in the Caribbean sun and sights of beautiful islands and crystal clear waters. Cruise to the Caribbean in luxury with Princess.

Featured Ports on Cruises to the Caribbean

Long to dive into turquoise waters? The Eastern Caribbean's world famous beaches await. Prefer to explore historic Mayan ruins? The Western Caribbean's ancient wonders are calling. For those craving adventure in a natural wonderland, the Southern Caribbean is brimming with possibilities. Each voyage illuminates the heart of Caribbean life, so come see what makes these islands legendary.

Beaches & Sunshine

Lazy days beneath swaying palms.

Let the soft sands and warm winds melt all your worries away. The beaches of the Caribbean are legendary for their natural beauty and tranquil turquoise waters. Relax with a tropical cocktail in your hand, swim with stingrays and sea turtles, or just take in the calming ocean air.

Culture & History

A diverse heritage.

The culture and history of the Caribbean is rich, varied and deep. Walk the docks that once harbored the greatest fleet in the world at Nelson's Dockyard, taste and hear the deep West African influences in everyday Caribbean life, and experience the uniqueness of each island.

Exploration

Mother nature's playground.

The Caribbean has been a land of adventure for hundreds of years, and there's excitement for every traveler, now more than ever. Zipline above the lush jungle, snorkel through a coral reef teeming with life, take an off-road vehicle deep into the rainforest or sail a catamaran out to explore a shipwreck. Adventure lives around every corner.

Island Shore Excursions

Experience the authentic Caribbean with award-winning shore excursions. In a region so full of new experiences, unique culinary delights and deep history, why trust anyone but the experts? Go swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman, travel through dense jungles to hidden Mayan ruins on Cozumel, snorkel the world’s second largest barrier reef in Belize or sail on a thrilling catamaran in Antigua.

Learn more about Caribbean Shore Excursions

Late Night Departures

The Caribbean has a different feeling at night. Revel in its warm evenings and enticing music with our More Ashore program. Later stays on select itineraries in Aruba, Curacao, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Maarten and St. Thomas let you soak up the full Caribbean experience, like a fresh-caught seafood dinner on the beach or street fair full of local crafts and flavors. With More Ashore, you get more time to enjoy the vibrant island nightlife.

#PrincessCruises Caribbean Connections

Caribbean cruise onboard experience & featured program.

Comfortable Accommodations

Your stateroom is your home away from home on your voyage where you rest up and recharge between adventures. With the expertly designed Princess Luxury Bed, luxurious 100% Jacquard-woven cotton linens and specially created SLEEP program by a board-certified sleep expert, you might just get the best sleep of your life. We offer staterooms ranging from interior cabins to full suites, and we even offer connected rooms for families with more than four members traveling together.

Bringing Local Life Aboard

Embrace the spirit of the islands the moment you step on your ship with our Rhythm of the Caribbean program. Savor island cuisine, sip signature cocktails and engage in authentic regional experiences. Dance beneath the stars to vibrant island rhythms at exclusive parties, and immerse yourself in one-of-a-kind cultural activities — from concerts and crafts to talks from shark experts and treasure hunters.

Never Miss a Beat

Say goodbye to the daily grind with our new Sail Away Party poolside on the top deck, dance to local music at one of the many Caribbean inspired concerts, or be the envy of every pirate at our high-energy gold treasure-inspired Terrace Pool Gold Party. Throughout your cruise to the Caribbean there will be events that excite, enrich and challenge you to fully experience the islands.

Deeper Experiences of the Islands

Discover the history of local distilleries while sampling some of the region’s best rums, meet the parrots and macaws that call the Caribbean home in the ship's Piazza, or become a part of the rhythm with steel pan drum lessons. Our onboard activities give you the chance to gain a deeper connection and understanding of the gorgeous islands you'll visit on your voyage.

Discovery at SEA

Sharks, pirates and stars — oh my.

Discovery at SEA brings the expertise and excitement of the Discovery Channel™ on board your Caribbean cruise! Enjoy Shark Week all summer long with shark-themed activities, hear tales of sunken treasure and lost shipwrecks from the stars of Travel Channel’s™ Caribbean Pirate Treasure, and explore the constellations and spectacular galaxies of the night sky with the Voyage to the Stars indoor planetarium experience.

Ship Activities for Every Cruise to the Caribbean

Recharging Your Batteries

Pamper yourself in the Lotus Spa® with a massage, facial or manicure, and feel renewed. Enjoy The Sanctuary, a lounge just for adults, where you can relax with a light meal, specialty drink and al fresco massages while digging into that novel you've been looking forward to reading. If you prefer your relaxation more active, we offer Zumba, yoga and tai chi classes to burn off stress and raise your heart rate.

Celebrations

The perfect place to celebrate.

Almost 30% of all passengers who sail with us are celebrating an important milestone in their lives. Say "I do" at sea in a ceremony officiated by the captain. Arrange for an anniversary package and let us spoil you with romantic balcony dining, chocolates and more. For us, every day is a celebration.

Love Blooms on the Love Boat

It's difficult to imagine something more romantic than sailing through the warm waters of the Caribbean, hopping between tropical islands and white-sand beaches from the comfortable luxury of your ship. While on board we cater to your romantic side with private dining on your balcony, whether a relaxing breakfast for two or a romantic sunset dinner, honeymoon packages for lucky newlyweds, flowers and chocolates delivered to your room and couples-only massages in the Sanctuary.

Food & Drinks

The flavors of the islands.

The diverse cultural influences, local climates and history of the Caribbean combine to make one of the most exciting and unique regional cuisines in the world. From mofongo, a dish from Puerto Rico made from mashed fried plantains, pork and garlic, to the famous jerk chicken of Jamaica, we serve the Caribbean's favorite flavors to you on board. Thanks to Princess' world-class chefs you'll enjoy fresh, locally inspired dishes for your entire voyage.

Movies Under the Stars®

Outdoor cinema at its best.

Enjoy many of the latest movies, exciting concerts and most anticipated live sports games on a massive poolside screen. The warm Caribbean night air, fresh popcorn and comfortable lounge chair with fleece blanket make for a viewing experience like no other. Not to mention the best theater in the world, the Caribbean ocean with a ceiling of stars!

Sailing with Your Crew

Enjoy a ship full of activities for the whole family, from Broadway-style shows to Discovery’s Shark Week all summer long, your family will be engaged in the Caribbean. Go Stargazing under the stunning expanse of the night sky with Discovery at SEA, compete in a family game night, and savor the flavors of the islands together.

Caribbean Cruise Articles and Videos

Read about colorful cultures, breathtaking landscapes, must-see attractions and preparation advice for cruising the Caribbean.

2023-2024 Caribbean Cruises

There’s no better way to truly experience the laid-back Caribbean than with Princess.

Caribbean Cruise Weather by Month

From radiant sunshine to turquoise waters, enjoy the best Caribbean cruise weather all year round when you sail to these tropical lands with Princess.

Top Five Caribbean Cruise Destinations

Whether you’re a history-lover, adventure-seeker or laid-back traveler, discover the best Caribbean cruise destinations for any guest with Princess.

Best Caribbean Cruises

Visit the best Caribbean cruise destinations with Princess and relax on white-sand beaches or embark on adventure that will leave a lasting impression.

Top Things to Do in Grand Cayman

From relaxing on the shores of Seven Mile Beach to feeding majestic sea creatures at Stingray City, discover the top things to do in Grand Cayman with Princess.

Best Time for a Caribbean Cruise

Discover the best time for a Caribbean cruise. From the offseason to the sunniest months to festival season, anytime is the best time to travel to the Caribbean.

See all Caribbean cruise articles and videos

Travel, Airfare, & Hotels: Let Princess Get You There

Airplane to Ship Transfer

We get you where you need to go.

Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

Learn more about transfers

Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

Stay longer and relax.

Extend your Caribbean cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation and the services of the representative.

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December Cruises

The Caribbean is the top destination for December cruises. The Canary Islands, Europe, Mediterranean and Asia are also popular choices. You can cruise in December with P&O Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Fred. Olsen and Royal Caribbean.

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Why cruise in December?

Discover the many reasons why December cruises remain a popular option for travellers, with exciting winter escapes and Christmas cruises to choose from.

Whether it's the perfect pre-Christmas getaway, with the chance to explore unique and fascinating markets or it's just the perfect excuse to escape the bad weather and find somewhere warm to unwind, December cruises offer a chance to get away and see the world in style. We have some amazing adults-only cruises, as well as a number of more family-oriented itineraries and ships if you want to take the kids with you.

See Christmas Cruises

Cruising the Caribbean in December

Take a Caribbean cruise and you can experience a tropical paradise of absolute serenity. Almost two-thirds of our cruises in December are to the Caribbean islands, letting you enjoy the best of the dry season with immaculate white beaches and gorgeous crystal-clear waters, creating a taste of ultimate relaxation.

There is a mix of short breaks and longer Caribbean getaways with a range of cruise lines and ships to suit every travelling party. So, whether it's an action-packed family break or something a bit more calm and elegant, the Caribbean makes for a magnificent cruise destination.

Sailing to Europe in December

Away from the Caribbean, there are numerous cruises around Europe during December. Unlike the summer months, more of the cruises are tailored towards the northern region rather than the Mediterranean although voyages to both are available. December is one of the better times of the year for possibly seeing the Northern Lights in Norway, while a city break to France, Holland or Belgium is ideal if you want a mini cruise with the option to visit nearby Christmas markets.

Where else to go?

Cruises to the Panama Canal in Central America, as well as around the continent of South America, are more readily available in December than in many other months, including a mix of mini cruises and those lasting a week or two. See stunning wildlife around Brazil, Peru and the Galapagos Islands along with lively and interesting cities.

Other cruises in December visit the wonders of the Far East, as well as destinations around Africa and Australia, while transatlantic options let you spend more time at sea if you're more interested in the cruising side of your holiday and spending days at sea.

Booking your December cruise

Leaving the bitter cold and pre-Christmas stresses behind, cruising during this month is a perfect excuse to get away from it all. We have a fantastic range of cruises to choose from, with a range of exceptional cruise lines and an amazing fleet of ships to offer the ultimate cruise experience. Call our Cruise Concierge today to book your cruise for December 2023, 2024 & 2025.

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Ukraine strikes Russian naval landing warship, Moscow admits damage

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Reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow, Max Hunder in London and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Michael Perry and David Goodman

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As Russia Chief Political Correspondent, and former Moscow bureau chief, Andrew helps lead coverage of the world's largest country, whose political, economic and social transformation under President Vladimir Putin he has reported on for much of the last two decades, along with its growing confrontation with the West and wars in Georgia and Ukraine. Andrew was part of a Wall Street Journal reporting team short-listed for a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. He has also reported from Moscow for two British newspapers, The Telegraph and The Independent.

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Back to class - or shelters? Next school year snags Israel's Lebanon strategy

In dozens of northern Israeli towns and villages, evacuated under fire from Lebanon's Hezbollah group in parallel with the Gaza war, officials hope daily rocket warning sirens will give way to school bells when the academic year starts on Sept 1.

Iraqi security forces cracked down on rioters in Baghdad who were attacking a KFC on Monday, wounding three with live fire and detaining at least 12, security and medical sources told Reuters.

New York Cruise Guide > Cruises > December 2023

Cruises from NYC December 2023

The complete calendar of cruises from New York ports (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty cruise terminals) in December of 2023. Enjoy an early winter cruise out of NYC.

15 cruises are scheduled in December. 2 are holiday cruises to the Caribbean, 12 to the Bahamas, and 1 to England.

December 2: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 3: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 8: 7-night cruise to England on Queen Mary 2 . December 9: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 10: 8-night cruise to the Bahamas on Carnival Cruise Line December 10: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 16: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 17: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 21: 12-night cruise to the Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line December 22: 12-night cruise to the Caribbean on Queen Mary 2 . December 23: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 24: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean December 28: 9-night cruise to Bahamas & Florida on Carnival Cruise Line . December 30: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on MSC December 31: 7-night cruise to the Bahamas & Florida on Royal Caribbean

Christmas cruises from NYC .

New Year cruises from NYC .

< < Cruises from New York in November 2023

Cruises from New York in January 2024 > >

Mon - Fri 9 - 19 | Sat 9 - 18 | Sun 10 - 16

December cruises

Jingle all the way into the end of the year with the most dazzling december cruise deals.

The year is coming to an end, and you feel like to make it unforgettable? A December cruise is the perfect way to frame it and make it truly special! And you won't even have to struggle to choose the perfect Christmas gift ! There's no better gift than a Christmas cruise. Dreaming to celebrate the New Year on a cruise? You just have to choose among MSC's stunning New Year's cruises!

Make your winter holidays extraordinary with the best December cruise deals . Sail into adventure with our awe-inspiring journeys! Choose the best destinations for your December holidays to the Caribbean , Emirates and Mediterranean or sail from Southampton onboard MSC Euribia to Northern Europe . Pick the best for your December vacations with family or friends!

Looking for a December cruise that fits your holidays? MSC Cruises has got you covered. From short winter getaways or a longer journeys, you can find the perfect itinerary for you! Choose from mini-cruises lasting up to 4 nights , standard 7-night cruises , or lengthier routes of up to 19 nights .

Book your December cruise and soak up on emotions!

Cruises in December 2024

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“Save and Sail Cruise Only” and “Save and Sail with Drinks” rates are per person based on double occupancy. The rates are subject to change and may vary without notice. This offer is valid on new bookings only from 16/10/2023 to 30/04/2024, valid until departure valid on selected sailings from Winter 23/24.

This promo is only combinable with the Healthcare discount, and the MSC Voyagers Club discount, also with the “target” promos. It excludes any other offer or MSC Discounts and/or Future Cruise Consultant Vouchers, unless otherwise stated on ad-hoc promotional material. The Healthcare discount is valid for all Destinations (MSC WORLD CRUISES excluded) and it is subject to availability at the moment of the reservation. 3rd and 4th berth guests pay the usual applicable rate. Guests travelling on different Experiences will be subject to restrictions on dining arrangements.

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The Fleet Report and Daily for Tuesday, December 26th, 2023

By kazu , December 26, 2023 in Holland America Line

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Today is Kwanzaa (lasts through January 1), National Boxing Day, and National Homeowners Day  

Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.--Neil Gaiman, Fables & Reflections Meal Suggestion for today - Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Drink of the Day - Fuzzy Melon Ball Wine of the Day - 2019 Yalumba Barossa Grenache Destination of the Day - Cartagena, Colombia Today in History: 1492 1st Spanish settlement La Navidad in the New World is founded by Christopher Columbus (modern Môle-Saint-Nicolas in Haiti) Ship Locations  

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 08:00 - 14:00   

At Sea Destination Honolulu, Oahu Island Hawaii eta 12-27  

Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos 08:00 - 17:00   

At Sea Destination Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida eta 12-27  

At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 12-31  

Grand Cayman Island, George Town Harbour 08:00 - 17:00   

La Paz, Baja California Mexico 08:00 - 17:00   

Scarborough, Tobago 08:00 - 17:00   

Willemstad Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 08:00 - 23:00  Eastern Hemisphere  

Wellington, New Zealand 08:00 - 17:00   

At Sea Destination Sihanoukville, Cambodia eta 12-

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Today’s Care List:

Cruising sister’s great niece Murphy   post-surgery,   on CPAP, gtube

Marshhawk’s DH Chuck not feeling well

Cruzin Terri not feeling well

JazzyV with right leg pain, tingling and numbness

Citizens of Ukraine, Israel and Gaza

All Dailyites going through worries and stress, whether mentioned or not

From the Rotation:

Tana with pulmonary issues

RMLincoln’s DH with glaucoma issues, medication allergy

HAL Sailer’s DH with medical issues

57redbird recovering from spinal fusion surgery

Celebrations and Shoutouts:

Kazu stepping up to keep the FR/Daily going while Rich is cruising

Cruising sister’s g-niece Murphy extubated, on CPAP  

All who shared photos of family and their holiday tables

RMLincoln signing closing documents on MD condo

Ger_77 visiting family in Calgary

Smitty34877 visiting family in NH

StLouisCruisers visiting family in OH

The Daily Gardening Club posting wonderful flower pictures

All the contributors to the Fleet Report/Daily

Upcoming Cruises or At Sea:

Seagarsmoker   (Nieuw Statendam to Dec 27, Southern Caribbean),   Petunia1950   (Nieuw Statendam to Dec 27, Southern Caribbean),   Nickelpenny   (Zuiderdam to Jan 3, Panama Canal Sunfarer Holiday),   St Pete Cruiser   (Zaandam to Jan 4, Southern Caribbean Holiday),   Ichiban Nekko   (Rotterdam to Jan 5, B2B, Western/Tropical Caribbean) ,   Av8rix   (Koningsdam to Jan 6, Circle Hawaii Holiday),   Haljo1935   (Koningsdam to Jan 6, Circle Hawaii Holiday),   GTVCRUISER (Koningsdam to Jan 6, Circle Hawaii Holiday),   Seasick Sailor   (Rotterdam to Jan 14, 51d B2B2B Eastern/Western Caribbean (14n) + Tropical/Southern Caribbean Seafarer (16n))   and   Richwmn (Volendam to May 4, 12d Mexico & Sea of Cortez Holiday + Jan 6 94d Grand Australia & NZ Voyage + Apr 6 15d PC Cruise + Apr 21 The Atlantic Cruise)

puppycanducruise

Good morning.  Thanks for the Report.

Happy Boxing Day.  Have a blessed Kwanzaa.  I'm fortunate to be a homeowner.

Another mild day in store for us, high of 10°C (50°F) today.  Love it.

I like the quote.

I haven't made chicken and dumplings in months, looking forward to seeing a recipe, I usually just wing it.  The drink and wine sound yummy.

Prayers for everyone on the care list.  Cheers for all the celebrations.

Have a wonderful day.

StLouisCruisers

Good morning friends!  It's 53 and cloudy (and very dark) in Ohio.  We will have a chance of rain this afternoon and a high of about 57.  ☔

Thank you Jacqui @kazu for posting the Fleet Report and Daily this morning for Rich @richwmn .  Good wishes to all who celebrate Kwanzaa this week.  Also for those who celebrate Boxing Day I hope you enjoy it even if you end up returning gifts this day after Christmas.  And last but not least National Homeowners Day, something most of us can appreciate even if it means we cope with the appliance gremlin or trees falling on the property!  I'm not feeling the quote today but I'm sure the Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings is tasty.  Can't stomach the name of the Fuzzy Melon Ball cocktail and probably wouldn't order the wine especially if red. 🍷  Thanks to the F&B ladies Debbie @dfish , Dixie @summer slope , and Ann @cat shepard for helping out with the reports today.  You all play a big part in the Daily and we appreciate you!

Prayers for our Daily family especially Melisa @HAL Sailer  and DH, Maureen  @RMLincoln and DH ,Vanessa @JazzyV and Terri @Cruzin Terri .  All of you with pain or health or family issues are prayed for "daily".  Also for DB, the people of Israel and Ukraine, hostages still held, and our military in harm's way over there. 🙏  Hoping all our travelers are staying safe!  Weather is looking good for our road trip tomorrow.  Hurray for the cruisers and for those celebrating big days like birthdays and anniversaries. 🎂  Enjoy them and we hope you have many more in the future! 🎉  Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for the list keeping, and I hope you enjoyed your time yesterday celebrating with BFF.  Praying for no pain and lots of sleep as the days go by.  🙏

I'm grateful for the video call yesterday with DS and family in Michigan.  They were all in pajamas, DDIL was cooking their Christmas meal, and the boys were relaxing.  The eldest one was fighting some illness which included a sore throat so it's good he was home and not mixing amongst us all.  They're all going to Cozumel on the 31st for their annual warm weather holiday to celebrate DDIL's birthday (Jan. 2 ) so I hope he's fit to travel then.  They need this core family time to prepare for the months ahead apart.

The port this morning is Cartagena, Columbia (not Spain!), a usual stop on Panama Canal cruises.  This was the port on November 28, 2021 and November 10, 2022.  We've been there on a 2016 Westerdam full transit of the Canal so will post photos later.  Here are the links:

We had a great time yesterday with the three older "kids" joining us and gave big hugs to all.  We enjoyed the less stressful dinner without the turkey and fixings melee, as well as gift opening, and games DD had planned for us.  The most popular game entailed tossing ping pong balls into red dixie cups taped to a sturdy poster board.  The cups were numbered and DD handed out prizes for the number of the cup you managed to land a ping pong ball in.  Prizes were gift cards to places like Starbucks and Target, chocolate bars, and scratch off lottery tickets.  Sadie and Milo 🐶  wanted to play so bad but had to be kept away from the ping pong balls and playing field.  A great time was had by all! 

Hope you all have a wonderful day!  Stay safe and well! 

The tour did not go inside which was fine.

The rest of the tour of the city is coming up next.

Good morning.

It is currently 37°F and sunny here at 11.35am.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas day.

Happy Boxing Day.

Today's food sounds good.

We have never been to today's port.

I hope everyone is safe and well.

St Pete Cruiser

Good morning everyone from the Good Ship Zaandam in Scarborough, Tobago 🇹🇹 . We had a very warm Christmas Day in Barbados yesterday. Today should be a repeat. 

14 minutes ago, JazzyV said:   Today’s Care List: Cruising sister’s great niece Murphy   post-surgery,   on CPAP, gtube Marshhawk’s DH Chuck not feeling well Cruzin Terri not feeling well JazzyV with right leg pain, tingling and numbness   Citizens of Ukraine, Israel and Gaza All Dailyites going through worries and stress, whether mentioned or not   From the Rotation: Tana with pulmonary issues RMLincoln’s DH with glaucoma issues, medication allergy HAL Sailer’s DH with medical issues 57redbird recovering from spinal fusion surgery   Celebrations and Shoutouts: Kazu stepping up to keep the FR/Daily going while Rich is cruising Cruising sister’s g-niece Murphy extubated, on CPAP   All who shared photos of family and their holiday tables RMLincoln signing closing documents on MD condo Ger_77 visiting family in Calgary Smitty34877 visiting family in NH StLouisCruisers visiting family in OH   The Daily Gardening Club posting wonderful flower pictures All the contributors to the Fleet Report/Daily   Upcoming Cruises or At Sea:   Seagarsmoker   (Nieuw Statendam to Dec 27, Southern Caribbean),   Petunia1950   (Nieuw Statendam to Dec 27, Southern Caribbean),   Nickelpenny   (Zuiderdam to Jan 3, Panama Canal Sunfarer Holiday),   St Pete Cruiser   (Zaandam to Jan 4, Southern Caribbean Holiday),   Ichiban Nekko   (Rotterdam to Jan 5, B2B, Western/Tropical Caribbean) ,   Av8rix   (Koningsdam to Jan 6, Circle Hawaii Holiday),   Haljo1935   (Koningsdam to Jan 6, Circle Hawaii Holiday),   GTVCRUISER (Koningsdam to Jan 6, Circle Hawaii Holiday),   Seasick Sailor   (Rotterdam to Jan 14, 51d B2B2B Eastern/Western Caribbean (14n) + Tropical/Southern Caribbean Seafarer (16n))   and   Richwmn (Volendam to May 4, 12d Mexico & Sea of Cortez Holiday + Jan 6 94d Grand Australia & NZ Voyage + Apr 6 15d PC Cruise + Apr 21 The Atlantic Cruise)

Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV  for your excellent work in keeping the Daily lists updated.

I hope you had a nice Christmas day and pray it was pain free for you.

summer slope

Fuzzy Melon Ball cocktail:

1/2 oz of Midori melon liqueur 1/2 oz of peach schnapps 5 oz of Orange Juice

Pour the Midori melon liqueur and peach schnapps into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Fill with orange juice, stir and serve.

Thank you Rich, Jacqui, Vanessa, Ann, Dixie, and Debbie.  I'll celebrate National Homeowner's day.  We don't hear about Boxing Day in the US but I've heard about a couple of possibilities.  I've gotten the impression from MASH that in the UK it involves a day of the bosses changing places with the help, and in Canada they give gifts to the people who serve them.

I don't think we have any dailyites who celebrate Kwanzaa but if we do wishing you a wonderful celebration.

Today's quote leaves me cold.  I'm not sure I think most of the years since 1492 have been tough for Haiti.

I've been to Cartagena many times, mostly with Crystal but also on Rotterdam just last month.

I'll pass on the meal.  My alternative is Country Style Buttermilk Chicken, my embarkation MDR lunch on MS Ryndam December 28, 2014.

My prostate cancer has flared up a bit.  Later this morning I go to Radiation Oncology to set up a short round of radiation to take care of the hot spots.  The doctor thought I might need this every couple of years.

8 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said: Next they drove us to go shopping at Las Bovedas, known as the "Dungeons".  It contains rows of handicraft stalls.  I have to admit I'm not much of a shopping enthusiasist.     Next we walked through the walled city to see the colonial homes, churches and squares.         I love seeing the unique architecture of the old cities.         So pretty!       I could do this type of tour all day.  This is one reason we try to do our own walking tours when the ship docks close to the Old Towns.  Not true in this case.   Interior of a small church.   I love this woman's outfit       After this cruise the show Amazing Race included a stop in Cartagena and the task for the teams included finding some of these colorful bags with clues in them.  How exciting to realize I'd recently been there too.     There's so many pictures!  I think I must stop now before you have overload!  I hope you enjoyed my pics of Cartagena!    

Excellent photos Sandi.

I never get sick of seeing photos especially of places we have never been to.

ocean sounds

Good morning and thank you for the Daily!

I’m enjoying the pictures of Cartagena, @StLouisCruisers .  I hope to visit one day on a Panama Canal cruise.   

To all cruising this week, I am enjoying your photos and comments.

have a wonderful day, everyone!

2 minutes ago, rafinmd said: Thank you Rich, Jacqui, Vanessa, Ann, Dixie, and Debbie.  I'll celebrate National Homeowner's day.  We don't hear about Boxing Day in the US but I've heard about a couple of possibilities.  I've gotten the impression from MASH that in the UK it involves a day of the bosses changing places with the help, and in Canada they give gifts to the people who serve them.   I don't think we have any dailyites who celebrate Kwanzaa but if we do wishing you a wonderful celebration.   Today's quote leaves me cold.  I'm not sure I think most of the years since 1492 have been tough for Haiti.   I've been to Cartagena many times, mostly with Crystal but also on Rotterdam just last month.   I'll pass on the meal.  My alternative is Country Style Buttermilk Chicken, my embarkation MDR lunch on MS Ryndam December 28, 2014.   My prostate cancer has flared up a bit.  Later this morning I go to Radiation Oncology to set up a short round of radiation to take care of the hot spots.  The doctor thought I might need this every couple of years.   Roy

Sorry to hear about your prostate flare up Roy.

Hopefully the prompt radiation treatment can put it back into remission.

8 minutes ago, grapau27 said: Excellent photos Sandi. I never get sick of seeing photos especially of places we have never been to.

7 minutes ago, ocean sounds said: Good morning and thank you for the Daily!   I’m enjoying the pictures of Cartagena, @StLouisCruisers .  I hope to visit one day on a Panama Canal cruise.    To all cruising this week, I am enjoying your photos and comments.   have a wonderful day, everyone!

I'm happy some of you enjoy seeing photos of places you've not seen before or have plans to in the future.  Graham @grapau27  you and Pauline might enjoy a Panama Canal cruise if you haven't been on one because of the hot weather, and opportunities to see some of the Caribbean islands you may not have seen before.  

12 minutes ago, rafinmd said: Thank you Rich, Jacqui, Vanessa, Ann, Dixie, and Debbie.  I'll celebrate National Homeowner's day.  We don't hear about Boxing Day in the US but I've heard about a couple of possibilities.  I've gotten the impression from MASH that in the UK it involves a day of the bosses changing places with the help, and in Canada they give gifts to the people who serve them.   I don't think we have any dailyites who celebrate Kwanzaa but if we do wishing you a wonderful celebration.   Today's quote leaves me cold.  I'm not sure I think most of the years since 1492 have been tough for Haiti.   I've been to Cartagena many times, mostly with Crystal but also on Rotterdam just last month.   I'll pass on the meal.  My alternative is Country Style Buttermilk Chicken, my embarkation MDR lunch on MS Ryndam December 28, 2014.   My prostate cancer has flared up a bit.  Later this morning I go to Radiation Oncology to set up a short round of radiation to take care of the hot spots.  The doctor thought I might need this every couple of years.   Roy

Good luck today Roy.  I'm sorry to hear of the recent flare up and hope the radiation takes care of it promptly.  

cat shepard

Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate!

Thank you for today’s FR& D, Jacqui! Santa did a great job this year & he and the reindeer deserve a long rest. I can see them now.  

Sitting at the airport waiting for my flight to board in about 30 minutes. Enjoying my morning coffee.. What a treat to have a 10 minute commute to the airport rental car return. Yesterday was wonderful. My nephew has turned into quite the baker: cinnamon rolls, bagels, Yule log, cookies and two types of pizza! I never had homemade pizza before & it was amazing! Good thing I worked out yesterday!

Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. Praying that you find relief for your pain soon. 

Once I land in Jacksonville, I will go pick up Bindi and head home. Laundry, Bindi walks and chilling are in my future.

A final salute to Christmas 2023…

Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from debilitating pain and conditions. And those grieving the loss of a loved one. Thinking of you & Tana, Terry.

Cheers to all who are celebrating!

May we each find a reason to smile today. 

2019   Yalumba Bar ossa Grenache

Ah, those brooding plums! Who knew they made great wine? And yes, @StLouisCruisers , Sandi - it is a red! Lots of consumer fans enjoy this wine. A decent number of distributors with online prices starting at  $16.89.

Winemaker Notes

The fragrance abounds with brooding plum red fruits, dark cherries and perfumed berries. The palate is richly textured, fleshy, round and supple with a red juiciness that merges into velvety tannins to finish. A defined wine showing the richness and concentration of the vintage. Pair with lamb and fennel ragu with penne or avocado pesto pasta with roasted tomatoes and pine nuts.

92James Suckling

This has attractive raspberries and a creamy, gently spicy edge. Smooth, creamy texture with concentrated raspberry-pastry flavors. Low yields, big flavors.

Nickelpenny

Good morning from a warm and muggy Willemstad Curaçao. Happy Boxing Day and Kwanzaa. I am no longer a homeowner but will celebrate the day. Interesting quote. Never liked Cracker Barrel but the recipe might be good .  I will pass on the drink and wine. I will be in Cartagena on the 28th!!

I had a pleasant Christmas Day with a day at sea enjoying watching Santa arrive and giving the children presents. I even took a picture with Jolly Ole St Nick!  They showed “Barbie” on the Main Stage- I was surprised that I really liked it. ( my friends enjoyed it and recommended I watch it). Dinner in the Lido stuffed me to the gills!

Today goal is to self explore Willemstad but not walk around a lot. The humidity will get to me quickly.   

Thoughts for all who have challenges this holiday season. Cheers to those celebrating.   

Have a great day everyone!

Crazy For Cats

Good Morning Everyone, thanks for today’s daily fleet report.  Yesterday got into the 50’s and today should be in the mid 40’s, it’s nice to save a little on the heating bill.  Today is going to be a very busy day with work as I catch up on all those emails that came in while I was on the Rotterdam.  I’d like today’s meal suggestion and look forward to @dfish  recipes and pictures.  We used to go to Cracker Barrel on a regular basis but now seems to far to go for a meal.

This little guy had fun trying to get food from the little area near the ship.

2 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:     I'm happy some of you enjoy seeing photos of places you've not seen before or have plans to in the future.  Graham @grapau27  you and Pauline might enjoy a Panama Canal cruise if you haven't been on one because of the hot weather, and opportunities to see some of the Caribbean islands you may not have seen before.  

Thank you Sandi.

Pauline expressed an interest in sailing through the Panama canal.

Our cruises next year are European then I will speak to the muscular skeletal team about sorting my arthritic joints then hopefully 2025 we will look at Australia and Carribbean cruises possibly on HAL.

Currently the Dover HAL cruises next year in balcony cabins are over twice the price of Pauline's favourite P&O from Southampton.

@rafinmd Good luck Roy.  I hope the radiation takes care of the flare up.

@rafinmd  I hope all goes well for you with the treatment. 

seagarsmoker

Good morning dailyites and thank you for the Daily Report. 

Our last full day aboard the NS heading back to port everglades. 

Yesterday was a good day.  Santa visited the NS for the kids and even stopped by the aft lido for photo opportunities. We attended Deal, no Deal game show. My ticket wasn't chosen to go on stage, but we stayed and it was a fun hour.

We had a good Christmas dinner. Suzi had the turkey and I had the ham.

Broke even in the casino.  

No plans today other than the unhappy time of packing at some point. 

Weather looks good and the water is almost like glass.

I hope everyone has a great day and I will check in later. 

Pics are from morning sunrise as we pass Cuba.

Good morning. I do hope all of who celebrated Christmas had a memorable day. SIL arrived on time and Sue prepared an outstanding.

The weather will be getting colder this weeks with forecasted low’s in the 30’s.

Need to head to the pharmacy today as when packing my meds one prescription does not have enough meds to make it to June.

I believe tonight’s dinner is oyster stew. I would guess some would pass on that.

@rafinmd Well that’s not a good way to end or start a year. Do pray treatments are successful without many side effects.

Thanks to all who have made the Daily a daily part of our life’s this year. Enjoy the last days of 2023. Bruce

12 minutes ago, Nickelpenny said: @rafinmd  I hope all goes well for you with the treatment. 

Ray, I hope all goes well with the treatment. 

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Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow confirms large warship hit in Crimean port – as it happened

This live blog is now closed but you can read more on this story here

• 26 Dec 2023 Summary of the day
• 26 Dec 2023 Ukrainian army chief dissatisfied with army draft programme changes
• 26 Dec 2023 Ukrainian minister thanks UK for pilot training
• 26 Dec 2023 Summary of the day so far
• 26 Dec 2023 Russia claims to have stopped Ukraine's counteroffensive
• 26 Dec 2023 Russia confirms navy vessel hit
• 26 Dec 2023 Ukraine claims major Russian navy ship destroyed in Crimea air assault
• 26 Dec 2023 Opening summary

Russia confirms navy vessel hit

One person was killed, two injured and a large landing ship called Novocherkassk was damaged in an overnight Ukrainian attack on the Crimean port city of Feodosia, Russia’s defence ministry and officials said.

The Interfax news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying that Ukraine had used guided missiles launched by aircraft to attack Feodosia.

Reuters reported that the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said on the Telegram messaging app that one person had been killed and two injured as a result of the attack.

There was no immediate report of how badly the ship was damaged, but videos circulating on Ukrainian channels showed an extensive fire in the port area.

Summary of the day

Here are all the key developments in the Ukraine war today:

The Ukrainian air force said it struck Russia’s Novocherkassk navy ship during an air attack on Feodosia in Crimea, controlled by Russia . Ukraine said the ship had been destroyed, but Russia said it was only damaged. Footage circulating on several Russian news outlets on Telegram showed powerful explosions and fires over a port area.

The Ukrainian army chief, Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi said he was not satisfied with the work of military draft offices that are responsible for mobilising troops to keep up the war effort against Russia . His comments came a day after Ukraine’s parliament published the text of a draft law containing reforms to the army draft programme, including lowering the age of men who can be mobilised to 25 from 27.

Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s defence minister, said he wanted “to express deep gratitude” to the British government “for providing basic training to Ukraine’s combat air pilots”.

Russia claimed that its forces had stopped Ukraine’s counteroffensive and are now pushing forward on all fronts.

Japan’s Mitsui & Co has decided to pull its employees out of Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project , citing several sources. The decision is yet another blow for the project. Fearing the backlash from US sanctions targeting the project, foreign shareholders have suspended their participation.

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, will hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Moscow on Wednesday, Russia’s foreign ministry has said. The ministers plan to discuss bilateral ties as well as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Thanks for following. I’m closing the blog for the evening but we’ll be back tomorrow.

The Ukrainian army chief Gen Valeriy Zaluzhnyi has said he is not satisfied with the work of military draft offices that are responsible for mobilising troops to keep up the war effort against Russia .

Reuters reports:

Zaluzhnyi spoke at his first wartime news conference a day after Ukraine’s parliament published the text of a draft law containing reforms to the army draft programme, including lowering the age of men who can be mobilised to 25 from 27.

The bill’s publication sparked controversy on social media, which appeared to be the prompt for the typically publicity-shy general into a rare effort to speak to the media.

The reforms are highly sensitive for a weary population in the midst of a 22-month-old war, which has no end in sight. Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the military had proposed mobilising an additional 450,000-500,000 people into the army.

Zaluzhnyi acknowledged that figure, but said:

I would not publicly discuss these figures. We had rather ambitious goals in 2023. I was not disappointed by the level of (foreign assistance) in 2023. Of course it was not the full (amount requested), but it allowed us to conduct confident military operations.

Tensions between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskiy burst into the open in November after the general was quoted as saying the war was heading towards a stalemate because of the technological state of play on the battlefield, a comment that drew a rebuke from the president’s office.

Zelenskiy and his allies have consistently portrayed a less gloomy view of the war, in which they have said Ukraine can and will drive Russian forces out of every last inch of occupied territory.

Zaluzhnyi said the period since he made his comments had vindicated them:

I received lots of criticism for this, but in time people realised that I was absolutely right.

He said Ukraine and its allies had already identified solutions to the majority of the questions and problems he raised in his comments about the battlefield in November.

On the drafting effort, he said he would support the introduction of electronic army call-ups, a step that would replace or reinforce the current model in which draft officers hand out call-up papers to people in the street or at check points.

Here’s a map showing the location of the Russian navy landing ship which Ukraine said it destroyed overnight.

Ukrainian army chief dissatisfied with army draft programme changes

The Ukrainian army chief, Gen Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, has said he is not satisfied with the work of military draft offices that are responsible for mobilising troops to keep up the war effort against Russian forces.

Zaluzhnyi made the comments at a press conference in Kyiv a day after Ukraine’s parliament published the text of a draft law containing changes to the army draft programme, including lowering the age of men who can be mobilised to 25 from 27.

A former TV journalist who opposes Russia’s war in Ukraine and who was disqualified on Saturday as a candidate for Russia’s upcoming presidential election has lodged an appeal with the supreme court.

Members of the central electoral commission voted unanimously to reject the candidacy of Yekaterina Duntsova, citing “numerous violations” in the papers she had submitted in support of her bid.

Speaking to Reuters after submitting an appeal to the supreme court, Duntsova – who is not well known across Russia and by her own admission commands a core support base of thousands in a country of over 140 million people – made it clear that she did not expect her appeal to be successful.

But the 40-year-old said she had been unfairly barred from taking part in a contest widely expected to be won by the incumbent, Vladimir Putin , who has been in power as either president or prime minister for more than 20 years.

By not letting her run, she said the authorities had deprived some young Russians of a way of expressing their views within what is a tightly controlled political system.

The Guardian’s chief culture writer, Charlotte Higgins, has a dispatch on Ukraine’s history-rich east, where the war with Russia is hastening both historical discoveries and the destruction of treasures.

She writes:

Ukraine is a country spectacularly rich in ancient archaeology, whether of the Scythians, with their horses and finely worked gold, who ranged across the steppes from the ninth to second centuries BC, or of the intriguing stone age Cucuteni-Trypillia culture, which produced remarkable, elaborately decorated ceramics and huge, city-scale “ megasites ”, or of the Greeks, who established trading emporiums on the Black Sea coast.

But in a country with already limited resources for cultural protection, Russia’s full-scale invasion has meant an onslaught of destruction to this rich record of the past.

The full extent of the damage is impossible accurately to assess. Research published this month in the journal Antiquity points to the difficulty of on-the-ground assessment even in liberated areas such as Chernihiv oblast in the north and Kharkiv in the east because of the danger of landmines and unexploded munitions.

Meanwhile, museum collections from occupied cities such as Melitopol, Kherson and Mariupol have been lifted and taken wholesale to Russia and Crimea. Cultural heritage of all kinds, including churches and other monuments, has been targeted, with destruction “at a rate not seen since 1945”, according to the authors. Trench-digging is “destroying buried cultural heritage at an alarming rate”, they add. The authors regard archaeological sites with particular concern, as “more problematic and less understood” than other forms of cultural heritage.

Grant Shapps , the UK secretary of state for defence, said today that the “latest destruction of Putin’s navy demonstrates that those who believe there’s a stalemate in the Ukraine war are wrong!”

They haven’t noticed that over the past four months 20% of Russia’s Black Sea fleet has been destroyed. Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea is now challenged and the new UK and Norway led maritime capability coalition is helping to ensure Ukraine will win at sea.

This latest destruction of Putin's navy demonstrates that those who believe there's a stalemate in the Ukraine war are wrong! They haven't noticed that over the past 4 months 20% of Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been destroyed. Russia's dominance in the Black Sea is now… https://t.co/F6zRmA9Kwx — Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) December 26, 2023

After the Ukrainian air force said it struck the Novocherkassk navy ship, which was stationed in Crimean waters controlled by Russia, Ukraine’s defence ministry said on social media that its troops had “modified” the ship to a submarine.

Ukrainian warriors modified the russian Novocherkassk large landing ship—now it's a submarine. pic.twitter.com/CMoQDAuzdR — Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 26, 2023

Ukrainian minister thanks UK for pilot training

Rustem Umerov , Ukraine’s defence minister, said today he wanted “to express deep gratitude” to the British government “for providing basic training to Ukraine’s combat air pilots”.

Ukraine highly values the pilot training that the UK and other partners are providing to help us prepare for operating F-16s in Ukraine. This is a very significant contribution to the international Air Force Capability Coalition for Ukraine.

Today I want to express deep gratitude to the Government of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Defence @grantshapps for providing basic training to Ukraine's combat air pilots. Ukraine highly values the pilot training that the UK and other partners are providing to… — Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) December 26, 2023

Summary of the day so far

Here are the key developments from the day so far:

Russia said its forces had stopped Ukraine’s counteroffensive and are now pushing forward on all fronts.

The jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny on Tuesday confirmed his arrival at what he described as a snow-swept prison above the Arctic Circle and said he was in excellent spirits despite a tiring 20-day journey to get there.

Navalny posted an update on X via his lawyers, after his allies lost touch with him for more than two weeks while he was in transit with no information about where he was being taken, prompting expressions of concern from western politicians.

His spokeswoman said on Monday that Navalny, 47, had been tracked down to the IK-3 penal colony north of the Arctic Circle located in Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets region about 1,900km north-east of Moscow.

Navalny wrote jokingly in his first post from his new prison, in reference to the harsh weather conditions there and Russia’s Father Christmas:

I am your new Father Frost.

Here’s some additional context on the Russian warship struck by Ukrainian forces in Crimea:

The Russian defence ministry, cited by the Interfax news agency, said Ukraine had used air-launched missiles to attack the Crimean port of Feodosia and that the Novocherkassk large landing ship had been damaged.

The attack could hinder any Russian attempt to seize more Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea coast.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 in a move Kyiv and the west condemned as an illegal seizure.

The Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said he thought it would be hard for the Novocherkassk – which can carry tanks and armoured vehicles and be used to land troops ashore – to re-enter service.

He told Radio Free Europe:

We can see how powerful the explosion was, what the detonation was like. After that, it’s very hard for a ship to survive, because this was not a rocket, this is the detonation of munitions.

Ukraine had used cruise missiles in the attack, without specifying what kind, Ihnat said. Britain and France have supplied Kyiv with such missiles.

Russia has hinted it may try to seize more Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea coast. Putin earlier this month said that Odesa, the headquarters of Ukraine’s navy, was “a Russian city”.

Footage posted on Russian news outlets on Telegram, purportedly from the port, showed powerful explosions detonating and fires burning.

Unverified social media videos purporting to capture the strike showed a vast explosion and ballooning flames lighting up the night sky. An unverified daytime photograph, which Ukrainian bloggers claimed showed the ship’s remains, depicted a charred, elongated clump of debris emerging out of the water by a dock.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, said on Telegram that one person had been killed. The RIA news agency said four people had been injured.

Although a Ukrainian counteroffensive has made little in the way of battlefield gains and the Russian military has regained the initiative in several places, Ukraine has been able to launch a series of attacks on Crimea, the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, inflicting serious damage.

Previous attacks have targeted ships in dry docks, warships moored in the main port of Sevastopol, airfields, the main Black Sea fleet HQ building, and the bridge that connects southern Russia to Crimea.

Throughout the war, Russia has used its fleet to impede Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea, the main export route for the agriculture and steel exports that formed a significant chunk of the country’s economy.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy , quipped on Telegram that his air force had added to Russia’s submarine fleet by damaging the landing ship.

There will not be a single peaceful place for the occupiers in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian air force said its pilots had attacked Feodosia at about 2.30am (0030 GMT), destroying the Novocherkassk.

The commander of Ukraine’s air force, Mykola Oleshchuk, said on Telegram:

And the fleet in Russia is getting smaller and smaller! Thanks to the Air Force pilots and everyone involved for the filigree work!

Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser, said on Telegram it was obvious that Russia would not release detailed information about the attack at a time of war, but said Russia needed to do more to protect its assets in Crimea.

It’s clear that Crimea’s air defence systems must be strengthened. And it is clear that it [ Ukraine ] needs to be deprived of the opportunity to hit Russia.

Feodosia, which has a population of about 69,000 people, lies on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula

Taiwan’s economy ministry says it has expanded a list of sanctioned goods for Russia and Belarus in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine .

Taiwan has condemned Russia’s attack and already joined the Western-led sanctions effort, though it is largely symbolic as there is only minimal direct trade between the island and Russia .

Announcing its latest round of sanctions, Taiwan’s economy ministry said the move was made “in order to fulfil international cooperation and prevent the export of our high-tech goods for military purposes”.

The list includes equipment for making semiconductors, the production of which Taiwan is a world leader in, as well as certain chemicals and medicines, adding to previous announcements which already targetted the chip industry.

Russia claims to have stopped Ukraine's counteroffensive

Russia is saying its forces have stopped Ukraine’s counteroffensive and are now pushing forward on all fronts , according to a Tass news agency report of the defence minister Sergei Shoigu’s comments.

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, will hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Moscow on Wednesday, Russia’s foreign ministry has said.

The ministers plan to discuss bilateral ties as well as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and issues related to groups such as Brics, it said in a statement.

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Ukraine Hits Major Russian Warship, but Loses Ground in the East

A major military success at sea against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was tempered by Ukraine’s acknowledgment that it had all but retreated from the city of Marinka.

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By Constant Méheut

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukraine scored a major success on Tuesday when it struck a Russian warship at port in Crimea, one of the most significant attacks against Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet in months. But in another setback for their ground campaign, Ukrainian officials acknowledged that they had all but retreated from the eastern city of Marinka after a monthslong battle to defend it.

The two developments underscored the diverging fortunes of the two combatants this winter in a war that has largely settled into a deadlock: Ukraine racking up naval successes in the Black Sea and Crimea, where it is putting Russia on the defensive, and Russia pressing its attack on battlefields in the east after blunting a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

A day after Russia said it had taken complete control of Marinka, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s top military commander, spoke in sober terms about the fight, comparing it to the scorched-earth battle for Bakhmut, the eastern city that fell to Russia in May. Like Bakhmut, Marinka held limited strategic value, but is now a trophy in ruins for Moscow.

“The situation is exactly the same as it was in Bakhmut,” General Zaluzhny said at a news conference . “Street by street, block by block, and our soldiers were being targeted. And the result is what it is.”

Ukraine’s forces, he said, have retreated to the outskirts of the city and set up some positions behind it, indicating that the cost of staying and fighting was too high. Every inch of Ukrainian land is vital, General Zaluzhny said, but “the lives of our fighters are more important to us.”

Hours earlier, the Ukrainian Air Force said that it had destroyed the Novocherkassk, a large landing ship, in the Crimean port of Feodosia overnight. Russia’s Defense Ministry told the Tass state news agency that the ship had been damaged in an attack using “aircraft-guided missiles,” but did not say whether the vessel had been permanently disabled.

Videos of the attack that appeared to be taken by residents and were released by the Ukrainian Air Force show a huge explosion that produced a large fireball, followed by a giant cloud of smoke and flames billowing into the night sky. The footage could not be immediately verified, but Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed governor of Crimea, said that the attack had started a fire in Feodosia. One person was killed and two others were wounded in the assault, he said.

“The fleet in Russia is getting smaller and smaller!” Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of Ukraine’s Air Force, wrote in a post on the Telegram messaging app celebrating the strike. He noted that last year, Ukrainian missiles sank the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

The strike on the Novocherkassk came on the heels of another gain for Ukrainian forces: The military said it had shot down five Russian fighter jets in three days. Analysts said that the downing of the bombers — one of the biggest weekly losses for the Russian Air Force since the war began — could ease the pressure on Ukrainian troops operating in some of the hottest spots on the front line.

The Ukrainian military has long maintained that the war cannot be won without taking aim at Russian assets and operations in Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014 . In recent months, Ukraine has sharply accelerated the pace of strikes on the peninsula, which Russia’s military uses as a logistics hub for its hold on southern Ukraine — stockpiling fuel, ammunition and other supplies to be funneled to the battlefields — and as a launchpad for attacks.

The Black Sea Fleet has fired devastating precision cruise missiles at cities and towns deep inside Ukraine. In an attempt to reduce the threat, the Ukrainian military has repeatedly targeted the fleet this year — damaging a warship in August and hitting the fleet’s headquarters a month later.

Those attacks were significant achievements for a country without warships of its own , and rare successes in a year marked by failed efforts to break through Russian defensive lines on the battlefield.

The battle for Marinka illustrated a defining feature of Russia’s invasion, one that analysts say gives Moscow’s forces a big advantage: Its willingness to send wave after wave of troops into fierce assaults, accepting a staggering number of casualties but counting on superior numbers in soldiers and ammunition to wear down the enemy.

It is the same approach Russia has taken in the nearby city of Avdiivka, where it has been attacking for months in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance. The Russian assaults come as Ukraine is encountering dwindling support from Western allies.

A suburb of Donetsk, Marinka once had a population of 10,000 and streets lined with schools, shops and even a museum. Today no civilians are left and the place has been reduced to rubble.

“Ukrainian forces held Marinka for almost two years as the Russians annihilated it street by street, and then house by house,” General Zaluzhny said on Tuesday.

Geolocated footage shows that Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions over months of battle. Then on Monday, Russia said it had seized full control of the town.

The capture of Marinka could allow Russian forces to turn their sights to the nearby towns of Kurakove, Vuhledar and Pokrovsk, bringing them closer to achieving Russia’s goal of capturing the entire Donbas region. General Zaluzhny said Ukrainian troops had “prepared a defensive line outside” Marinka, suggesting that his military would try to thwart Russia’s efforts to advance farther.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that it had used cruise missiles in Tuesday’s Black Sea attack, which took place around 2:30 a.m. local time. Russia’s Defense Ministry told Tass that two Ukrainian Su-24 fighter jets involved in the attack on Feodosia had been “destroyed,” a claim that Ukraine’s military denied.

While the extent of the damage to the ship was not immediately clear, the attack hit what appeared to be a valuable target.

The 360-foot-long Novocherkassk was capable of transporting up to 10 tanks and several hundred troops, according to Russian news media , which reported that it had previously been involved in Russian military operations in Syria. In June 2022, Tass said the ship was part of a group of 12 vessels “ready to perform combat tasks in the Black Sea.”

Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday that it suspected that the ship was carrying attack drones for use in the war. Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian army, said on national television that “it is clear that such a large detonation was caused not just by fuel or ammunition of the ship itself.”

Andrii Klymenko, the head of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies , agreed. “Judging by the video of the explosion, which was very powerful, it was carrying explosives: either shells or missiles, or, as some people say, drones,” he wrote in a text message.

Mr. Klymenko noted that the port of Feodosia was close to Cape Chauda, which he said Russia has long used as a launch site for attack drones.

Data compiled by the institute shows that the Ukrainian military carried out at least 155 attacks on Crimea and the Russian Black Sea Fleet from January to October of this year, averaging one every other day.

Amid the intensified campaign, Russia relocated vessels from Sevastopol, the fleet’s home port, to harbors farther away from Ukrainian land, including Feodosia, which is on Crimea’s eastern coast. But Tuesday’s attack made it clear that those ports were still at risk.

The strike came as Ukraine signaled that it was girding for a protracted war against Russia. On Monday, the government introduced a bill in Parliament that proposes lowering the age of people who can be drafted into the military to 25 from 27.

As the Ukrainian Army suffers from a shortage of troops to battle Russia’s repeated assaults, the conscription process has come under scrutiny amid reports of wrongful draft notices and coercive mobilization tactics.

Military officials have said in recent days that a large-scale mobilization of up to 500,000 soldiers will be necessary. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said a plan still had to be drawn up before he could make a decision. Although General Zaluzhny did not specify any figures on Tuesday, he called for mobilizing more troops to cover Ukrainian losses.

Constant Méheut has covered France from the Paris bureau of The Times since 2020. More about Constant Méheut

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

The decision by the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia  with American-made weapons fulfills a long-held wish by officials in Kyiv  that they claimed was essential to level the playing field.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied arms could expand beyond the current limitation  to strikes in the Kharkiv area.

Top Ukrainian military officials have warned that Russia is building up troops near northeastern Ukraine , raising fears that a new offensive push could be imminent.

Zelensky Interview: In an interview with The New York Times, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine challenged the West  over its reluctance to take bolder action.

Fleeing a War Zone: A 98-year-old Ukrainian grandmother stumbled past corpses and bomb craters  to escape Russia’s attacks.

Russia’s RT Network : RT, which the U.S. State Department describes as a key player in the Kremlin’s propaganda apparatus, has been blocked in Europe since the war started. Its content is still spreading .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

Ukrainian claims cruise missile attack on Crimean port destroyed Russian warship

Ukraine’s armed forces chief expresses frustration with the performance of military draft offices.

The Russian navy ship Novocherkassk passing through Canakkale Bosphorous in May 2014 in Canakkale, Turkey. Photograph: Mehmet Bayer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Ukraine struck a large Russian landing warship in Crimea with cruise missiles in an overnight attack that killed at least one person and could hinder any Russian attempt to seize more Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea coast.

The Russian defence ministry, cited by the Interfax news agency, said Ukraine had used air-launched missiles to attack the Crimean port of Feodosia and that the Novocherkassk large landing ship had been damaged.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu had briefed president Vladimir Putin in detail about the attack, the Kremlin said. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 in a move Kyiv and the West condemned as an illegal seizure.

Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said he thought it would be hard for the Novocherkassk – which can carry tanks and armoured vehicles and be used to land troops ashore – to re-enter service.

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Kyiv seeks US permission to use long-range missiles to hit Russian air bases

Ukraine had used cruise missiles in the attack, without specifying what kind, Mr Ihnat said. Both Britain and France have supplied Kyiv with such missiles.

Russia has hinted it may try to seize more Ukrainian territory along the Black Sea coast. Mr Putin earlier this month said Odessa, the headquarters of Ukraine’s own navy, was “a Russian city”.

Footage posted on Russian news outlets on Telegram, purportedly from the port, showed powerful explosions detonating and fires burning.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed governor of Crimea, said on Telegram that one person had been killed. The RIA news agency said four people had been injured.

Ukraine’s armed forces chief has expressed frustration with the performance of military draft offices, in remarks suggesting they should mobilise more troops for the war.

Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, at his first wartime news conference, in Kyiv. Photograph: Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

Gen Valery Zaluzhnyi spoke at his first wartime news conference a day after Ukraine’s parliament published the text of a draft law containing reforms to the army draft programme, including lowering the age of men who can be mobilised to 25 from 27.

The Bill’s publication sparked controversy on social media, which appeared to prompt the typically publicity-shy general to make a rare effort to speak to the press.

“I am not currently satisfied with the work of the [draft offices],” he said.

“If I was satisfied with their work, we would not be here discussing this draft law [on mobilisation].”

Ukraine saw tens of thousands of men volunteer to fight in the first months of Russia’s invasion, but that enthusiasm has dampened 22 months into the full-scale war.

Residential buildings razed to the ground and shell craters in the town of Maryinka in May 2023. Photograph: AP

Gen Zaluzhnyi also conceded that Ukrainian troops had withdrawn to the edges of Maryinka, a town fought over for months which the general now said “no longer existed” due to the destruction wreaked upon it.

The reforms are highly sensitive for a weary population in the midst of a nearly two-year-old war which has no end in sight. Last week, Mr Zelenskiy said the military had proposed mobilising an additional 450,000-500,000 people into the army.

Gen Zaluzhnyi acknowledged that figure, although he said it had not come from the military. He said such a figure represented an overall plan and would be filled gradually.

He told reporters in Kyiv that he would never have revealed such a number publicly, a remark that may renew public speculation of political friction between him and Ukraine’s wartime president.

Gen Zaluzhnyi oversaw the 2023 counteroffensive that failed to retake significant quantities of Russian-occupied land.

However, he is still extremely popular with many Ukrainians after beating back Russian forces from Ukraine’s capital in early 2022 and masterminding two successful counter-offensives that autumn, which retook large amounts of territory.

Tensions between Gen Zaluzhnyi and Mr Zelenskiy burst into the open in November after the general was quoted as saying the war was heading towards a stalemate because of the technological state of play on the battlefield, a comment that drew a rebuke from the president’s office. – Reuters

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023

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