Putin unleashes massive Christmas Day attack on Ukraine with more than 70 missiles and 100 attack drones
Putin unleashes massive Christmas Day attack on Ukraine with more than 70 missiles and 100 attack drones
REUTERS
Russia has launched a massive Christmas Day attack on Ukraine, targeting the country's energy infrastructure with more than 70 missiles and over 100 attack drones.
The assault, which began on Wednesday morning, struck multiple regions across Ukraine, forcing many civilians to seek shelter underground.
Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK confirmed this was the 13th massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector this year.
The widespread assault included both cruise and ballistic missiles, with strikes reported across eastern, central, southern and western regions.
Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko said Russia "is massively attacking the power sector", with the transmission system operator implementing restrictions on electricity supply to minimise the impact.
Many Ukrainians were left celebrating Christmas without heat or power as a result of the coordinated strikes.
Putin unleashes massive Christmas Day attack on Ukraine with more than 70 missiles and 100 attack dronesREUTERS
DTEK reported "serious damages" to power equipment at its generating facilities during the strike.
Power outages have been reported across several regions, with energy workers rushing to restore supply as quickly as possible.
The Dnipropetrovsk region came under particular focus, with Governor Serhiy Lysak reporting that Russian forces were "trying to destroy the region's power system".
Emergency power cuts may be necessary, similar to those implemented during a previous attack in November when outages lasted up to eight hours.
This marks the tenth massive attack specifically targeting DTEK's energy facilities this year.
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Kyiv residents sheltering underground during Russian missile attack
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"Energy workers are working to restore the power supply as soon as possible," President Zelenskyy said, thanking those involved in the restoration efforts.
The attack has caused significant disruption to Ukraine's power generation capacity, with local authorities reporting widespread infrastructure damage.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned Vladimir Putin's decision to launch the attack on Christmas Day, calling it a deliberate and "inhumane" act.
"Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones," Zelenskyy said.
Aftermath of a Russian missile attack
REUTERS
The Ukrainian president emphasised that such attacks require careful planning. "Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision," he said.
"They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine," Zelenskyy added, vowing that "Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not spoil Christmas."
Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha described the assault as "Christmas terror", calling it "Putin's response to those who spoke about illusionary 'Christmas ceasefire'."
This marks only the second time Ukraine has officially celebrated Christmas on 25 December, moving away from the traditional 7 January date.
Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted much of the Christmas Day assault, shooting down more than 50 missiles and "a significant number of drones", according to President Zelenskyy.
In Kharkiv, at least six people were wounded in missile strikes, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
The northeastern city suffered damage to civilian non-residential infrastructure after being hit by ballistic missiles.
The Ukrainian military had launched a countrywide air alert in response to Russian cruise missile launches.
This attack follows a previous massive strike on 17 November, when Russia launched 120 missiles and 90 drones, killing at least seven people.
"I thank everyone who is working for the country, who is on combat duty, who is protecting our skies," Zelenskyy said.
Responding to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine on Christmas day, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “I condemn this ongoing assault 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 from Putin’s bloody and brutal war machine, with no respite, even at Christmas.
“As we go into the New Year, it remains vital that we redouble our resolve to place Ukraine in the strongest possible position to end Russia’s illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people.”
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