Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during its Christmas Day attack
On Wednesday, Russia fired large missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, hitting a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in subway stations on Christmas morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones were used to strike Ukraine’s energy sources.
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba said in the Telegram messaging program that 155 residential buildings in the Ivano-Frankivsk region have been cut off. He also said that 500,000 consumers or 2,677 buildings were left without heat in Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that a Russian missile crossed the airspace of Moldova and Romania.
“Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhuman than that?” Zelensky said. “They continue to fight for blackouts in Ukraine.”
According to him, Ukraine managed to shoot down at least 50 missiles and a large number of drones.
Every massive Russian strike takes time to prepare. It is never a spontaneous decision. It’s a deliberate choice – not just the goals, but also the time and date.
Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for the attack. What could be more inhuman than that? More than 70 rockets,… pic.twitter.com/GMD8rTomoX
—@ZelenskyyUa
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that it had struck a “massive strike” on critical energy facilities in Ukraine that support the work of Kiev’s military-industrial complex.
“The goal of the strike was achieved. All objects were hit,” the ministry said, adding that Russian forces also took control of the Vidrodzhennia settlement in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on his Facebook account that Russia has again “massively attacked the energy infrastructure”. The Ukrainian Air Force launched numerous missile strikes on Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava regions in the east of the country.
“The operator of the (electricity) distribution system takes the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize negative consequences for the power system.” “Energy workers will determine the damage as soon as security conditions allow.”
Ukraine’s power grid has been attacked more than a dozen times
Ukraine’s largest private energy company DTEK said Russia struck one of its thermal power plants on Wednesday morning, the 13th attack on Ukraine’s power grid this year.
DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko wrote on his X account: “Depriving millions of peace-loving people of light and heat while celebrating Christmas is a deviant and evil act that must be answered.”
Ukraine’s state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo has preemptively cut off electricity across the country due to a “massive missile attack,” causing blackouts in several districts of the capital, Kyiv.
Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the region, wrote on Telegram that at least seven strikes targeted Kharkiv, causing fires throughout the city. At least three people were injured, local authorities said.
“Kharkov is under massive rocket fire. A series of explosions are heard in the city and ballistic missiles are still flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places,” said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
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