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A large-scale attack by Russian missiles and drones UkraineOn Christmas, the Croatian energy system was condemned by the president as “inhumane”. Volodymyr Zelensky.
Half a million people remained without heating in Kharkiv in temperatures just a few degrees above zero, as power outages were reported in Kyiv and other regions.
At least one person was killed and six others wounded in the attack, which a Ukrainian energy chief described as Vladimir Putin“state-sponsored terrorism”.
The mass attack came as Ukraine officially celebrated Christmas on December 25 for only the second time, in a move to reduce impact of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is celebrated on January 7.
The Ukrainian president said more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones were used to target Ukrainian energy sources. Nearly 60 missiles and 54 drones were shot down, according to the Kyiv Air Force.
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“Any massive Russian strike requires time to prepare. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice – not only of goals but also of time and date. Putin on purpose chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane?” Zelensky said.
“The goals are our energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for blackouts in Ukraine.”
Mr. Zelensky’s comments were echoed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who paid tribute to the “resilience of the Ukrainian people… in the face of further drone and missile attacks by Putin’s bloody and brutal war machine, without respite, even on Christmas Day.” ”
The Prime Minister added: “As we enter the New Year, it remains vital that we redouble our resolve to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to end Russia’s illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people.”
Spending Christmas Eve near the battlefield in the Kharkiv region reporting on Ukrainian drone operators destroying Russian military targets, The Independent’s Askold Krušelnicki described the attack.
“Two hours after I got back to the hotel I was woken up at 6.30am on Christmas morning by the Russian army attacking civilian targets in Kharkiv,” he said.
“The city, in eastern Ukraine, is so close to the border that Russian rockets, cruise bombs and drones, which attack Kharkiv most days, often hit their targets before air raid sirens can sound.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced that it has carried out a major attack on what it claims are critical energy facilities that support Kiev’s military-industrial complex. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko warned that because of this, there are restrictions on the country’s electricity supply.
A thermal power plant was hit, prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations, and the military launched a nationwide air alert in response to the launch of Russian cruise missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force announced that the missiles were fired at the eastern regions of Kharkiv, Dnieper and Poltava.
At least six people were wounded in the attacks in the city of Kharkiv and killed one in the Dnipropetrovsk region, local governors said.
Mr Krushelnycky said: “I was woken up by a loud bang which was followed in the following minutes by at least four more explosions and then another shortly after.
“Since then, air raid alarms have been sounded frequently, and the sound of emergency vehicle sirens has been the background sound throughout Christmas.
“From the hotel where I stayed, when I stayed there for the first time last year, they informed me that they don’t have a basement, and therefore they don’t have their own air raid shelter, but one, a little further away, was available to guests.
“Air raid sirens can be sounded in the capital, Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities multiple times. In the second largest city of Ukraine, Kharkiv, it is rare that a day is not announced more than once. So most Ukrainians don’t rush to shelters when alarms go off or, in places like Kharkiv, even when distant explosions are heard.”
Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said the death occurred in an attack on regional power facilities. “Since this morning, the Russian army has been massively attacking the Dnieper region. He is trying to destroy the region’s energy system,” he said.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported “massive rocket fire,” adding: “A series of explosions rang out in the city, and ballistic missiles are still flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places.”
Ukraine’s largest private energy company DTEK said its production facilities were attacked, with power equipment severely damaged, in the 13th large-scale attack on the energy sector this year.
“We call on every ally of Ukraine to end this state-sponsored terrorism now by providing our armed forces with the air defense ammunition they need to protect essential energy infrastructure,” said DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko.
Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector since the spring, damaging almost half of its production capacity and causing prolonged blackouts.
Responding to Russia’s attacks, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I condemn this ongoing attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“I pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the leadership of President Zelensky in the face of further drone and missile attacks by Putin’s bloody and brutal war machine, without respite, even on Christmas.
“As we enter the New Year, it remains vital that we redouble our resolve to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to end Russia’s illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people.”
US Ambassador Bridget Brink said: “Russia’s Christmas present to Ukraine: more than 70 missiles and 100 drones, targeting Ukrainian families celebrating in their homes and the energy infrastructure that sustains them.
“For Third Holiday Season, Russia Arms Winter.”
The latest attack has arrived just a day after at least one person was killed and 15 injured in Zelenskiy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih – after a ballistic missile hit a residential building in the central Ukrainian city.
“The monsters directly hit the four-story building with 32 apartments,” said local military chief Oleksandr Vilkul.
Additional reporting by news agencies