People hold Bengal lights at Red Square during the New Year celebration in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, with the Spasskaya Tower, left, and St. Basil's Cathedral, right, in the background. Putin is using his New Year’s message to commemorate both the country’s current fight in Syria and the battles of World War II seven decades ago. The recorded message was being televised just before midnight Thursday in each of Russia’s nine time zones. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)