Putin cancels Russian NYE fireworks AGAIN ‘for fear of upsetting shell-shocked troops who’ve returned from Ukraine war’
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VLADIMIR Putin has been forced to cancel midnight firework displays across Russia as a joyless consequence of his war against Ukraine. A major pyrotechnics show over the Kremlin and onion-domed St Basil’s Cathedral is normally one of the iconic moments as new year rolls around the world.
![[Vladimir Putin's regime has cancelled New Year fireworks in Moscow]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/New-Year-fireworks-in-Moscow-2-East2west-News.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But Red Square will be closed to revellers for hours either side of midnight. Displays in dozens of major cities across Russia’s 11 time zones were cancelled - including in second city St Petersburg and the Pacific capital Vladivostok. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a close Putin ally, said a poll showed people were against celebrating the New Year with fireworks due to the ongoing war.
![[Putin has not held NYE fireworks since 2021]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/russian-president-vladimir-putin-delivers-960035229_601b49.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
There have been claims that the war-wounded could be scared of the noise from fireworks. There were also fears that Ukraine could sabotage the traditional fireworks displays. Fireworks at New Year were introduced in Russia by Peter the Great. Displays in Moscow marking New Year were cancelled since the start of the war.
![[Local residents take shelter in a metro station during an air strike alarm in Kyiv]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/local-residents-take-shelter-metro-960716656.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It comes as the war in Ukraine reignited on the final day of 2024 with massive attacks by both sides. Russia struck capital city Kyiv and the Sumy region deploying its Tu-22M3 strategic bombers with Kh-22 missiles. There were reports of the launch of Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles unleashed from Russian MiG-31 aircraft.
![[Kyiv was besieged by Russia on NYE]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/local-residents-take-shelter-metro-960716223.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
