Russia: Russia has launched a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a Christmas Day attack, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning the strikes as a “conscious choice” to impose suffering.
Ukraine’s air force reported detecting 184 missiles and drones during the attack, many of which were intercepted or failed to reach their targets. Casualties were reported, though no precise figures have been released.
The assault initiated widespread power outages, including in Kyiv’s capital, where residents sought shelter in metro stations. Ukrainian energy company DTEK confirmed that this was the 13th major attack on the country’s energy sector this year.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed the operation targeted “critical” energy facilities and claimed it was a success. In response, U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack, characterising it as an effort to deny Ukrainians access to heat and electricity during the harsh winter. Biden also directed the U.S. Department of Defence to continue military aid to Ukraine.
The strikes left extensive damage, with the north-eastern city of Kharkiv—Ukraine’s second-largest—suffering the worst effects. Half a million residents were left without water, electricity, or heating along with freezing temperatures, according to local officials. Power company Ukrenergo has set usage restrictions and warned that outages could persist throughout the day as repair efforts continue.
In Kyiv, air raid sirens disrupted Christmas morning as families sought shelter. Despite the circumstances, residents remained intractable. The strikes also elevated regional tensions. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the assault as “Christmas terror,” alleging that a Russian missile briefly joined Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
While Moldovan President Maia Sandu authorised the incursion, Romania stated it did not detect any missile in its territory. Meanwhile, in Russia’s Kursk region, four people were killed and five others injured in Ukrainian shelling, according to the acting governor.
President Zelensky vowed to rebuild and blamed Moscow for using Christmas as a tool for “inhumane” acts. President Zelensky stated that, “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not distort Christmas,” urging Ukrainians to remain resilient.
This marks the second time Ukraine has celebrated Christmas on December 25, a move distancing it from the Julian calendar followed in Russia. Despite the attacks, a significant part of Ukraine’s Orthodox Christians will celebrate Christmas on January 7, as per tradition.
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