Kyiv, Ukraine Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, hitting a thermal power plant and sending Ukrainians sheltering in subway stations on Christmas morning.
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In a statement to X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones have been used to attack Ukraine’s energy sources.
“Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane?” Zelensky said. “They continue to fight for off in Ukraine.”
He said Ukraine had managed to shoot down at least 50 missiles and a significant number of drones.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said Russia is again “massively attacking the energy infrastructure,” in a statement on Facebook. The Ukrainian Air Force noticed several missiles fired in the Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava regions in the east of the country.
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“The (electricity) distribution system operator takes the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize negative consequences for the electricity system,” he said. “As soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will establish the damage caused.”
Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia hit one of its thermal plants, making it the 13th attack on Ukraine’s power grid this year.
“Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,” DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko wrote on his X account.
Ukraine’s state-run energy operator Ukrenergo instituted preemptive power cuts across the country due to a “massive missile attack,” causing power cuts in several districts of the capital , Kiev.
At least seven attacks targeted Kharkiv and caused fires throughout the city, regional chief Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At least three people were injured, local authorities said.
“Kharkiv is under heavy missile fire. 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,” said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Since then, the energy network of Ukraine has been very targeted Russia launched its invasion on a large scale in February 2022, with Kiev accusing Moscow of “terror” tactics by trying to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and cut heating to civilians throughout the winter.