Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is President of Ukraine, called the cruise and ballistic missile strikes “inhuman” as it left several regions without power and heating
A massive Russian attack on Ukraine left several regions without power on Christmas morning.
Cruise missiles targeted energy infrastructure across the country today, which caused blackouts in major cities including Kyiv. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, blasted the attack, describing the move as “inhuman”.
He said on Telegram: “Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhuman? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones. The targets are our energy. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.”
Temperatures fell to below just a few degrees celsius above zero. However, Mr Zelenskyy insisted the loss of heating would not ruin his nation’s Christmas.
The 46-year-old politician, who has been the country’s leader since 2019, added: “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not distort Christmas.”
Ukraine’s energy minister, German Galushchenko, said the transmission system operator had imposed restrictions on the electricity supply to minimise the impact.
At least three people were wounded in a missile attack on Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine, the city’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, said.
“Kharkiv is under a massive missile attack. A series of explosions were heard in the city and there are still ballistic missiles heading towards the city,” Terekhov wrote on Telegram early on Wednesday.
The governor of Kherson region also reported on Wednesday that one person had been killed in the last 24 hours. In Dnipropetrovsk region, a search and rescue operation after strikes on Christmas Eve found a 43-year-old man had been killed and 17 others wounded, the Dnipropetrovsk governor, Sergiy Lysak, said.
Russia’s defence ministry said in its daily briefing that it had conducted a massive strike on critical energy infrastructure facilities that supply Ukraine’s defence industry. The US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, called the attacks “Russia’s Christmas gift to Ukraine”.
She said on X: “More than 70 missiles and 100 drones, directed at Ukrainian families celebrating in their homes and the energy infrastructure that keeps them warm. For the third holiday season, Russia weaponises winter.”
