Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned an “inhumane” assault from Russia, which unleashed over 170 missiles and drones on his war-ravaged country’s power infrastructure on Christmas Day, resulting in one fatality and extensive blackouts.
The nation awoke at 5:30 am local time to the sound of air raid sirens, soon followed by reports from the air force indicating that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
“Putin intentionally chose Christmas to launch this attack. What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred attack drones were unleashed. The target is our energy system,” Mr. Zelensky stated.
This marks the 13th significant strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this year, as part of Russia’s ongoing campaign to target the power grid during the winter months.
Ukraine’s air force managed to intercept more than 50 missiles, according to Mr. Zelensky.
“Regrettably, some missiles did get through. Currently, several regions are experiencing blackouts,” he reported.
Ukraine’s DTEK energy company indicated that the attack inflicted severe damage on the equipment of thermal power plants.
“Depriving millions of peace-loving individuals of light and warmth during Christmas is a depraved and malevolent act that must be met with a response,” DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko stated, calling on allies to provide more air defense support.
The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region noted that Russia was deliberately targeting Ukraine’s power infrastructure.
Engineers are actively working to restore the system, as regional officials indicated power outages were occurring.
“Christmas morning has yet again demonstrated that nothing is sacred for the aggressor nation,” commented Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
She mentioned that part of the region was left without electricity “at a time when we celebrate one of the most significant religious holidays – the joyous Christmas”.
For the second consecutive year, Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas today.
Last year, the government shifted the date from January 7, when most Orthodox believers celebrate, as a gesture of defiance against Russia.
The Christmas Day assault specifically targeted central Dnipropetrovsk, where Governor Sergiy Lysak stated that Russia was “attempting to dismantle the region’s power system”.
The strikes resulted in at least one fatality in Dnipropetrovsk, according to Mr. Lysak.
Rescue operations were concluded at a site of a strike in Kryvyi Rig, which resulted in one death and 17 injuries the day prior.
Russia also launched 12 missiles toward Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city near the Russian border, hitting boiler houses, thermal power plants, and electricity facilities, reported Mayor Igor Terekhov.
The attack left four individuals wounded in Kharkiv and caused heating outages in parts of the city, he added.
‘Won’t ruin Christmas’
Kharkiv’s governor Oleg Synegubov also confirmed that authorities had evacuated 46 residents from the Borivske and Kupiansk areas.
Moscow’s forces are making efforts to reclaim the town of Kupiansk, which was captured in the war’s first year.
Ukraine successfully recaptured it in September 2022 during a rapid offensive that reclaimed significant areas of the Kharkiv region.
Outnumbered Ukrainian forces are facing challenges across the front lines in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions further south, yielding ground to better-equipped Russian troops.
Russian strikes resulted in one death in the Donetsk region the day before, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.
Both sides are trying to secure an advantage ahead of the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who has claimed he would swiftly end the conflict, raising concerns that Washington may press Kyiv into a deal favorable to Moscow.
Ukraine has been urging its allies to increase aid to defend against aerial assaults and to counteract ground troops.
“I am grateful to everyone who is serving the country, who is on combat duty, and who is safeguarding our airspace,” Mr. Zelensky expressed.
“The evil of Russia will not break Ukraine and will not spoil Christmas,” he affirmed.
