Ukrainians faced fresh Russian drone and missile strikes on energy infrastructure across the country on Tuesday night and Christmas morning, with Kyiv’s energy minister warning of immediate power outages.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: “Every Russian massive strike takes time to plan. It is never a snap decision. It is a deliberate choice of targets, time, and date.”
Zelenskyy claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin “deliberately chose Christmas for an attack.” What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and over 100 strike drones. The targets are in the energy sector. “They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.”
“According to preliminary data, our defenders managed to shoot down more than 50 missiles and a significant part of the drones,” he said. “Unfortunately, there were hits. Currently, there are outages in several regions. Energy workers are working to restore power as soon as possible.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired 78 missiles of various types into the country, 59 of which were shot down. Russia also launched 106 strike drones, 54 of which were shot down and 52 lost in flight, according to the air force.
“The enemy attacks energy again massively,” Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote in a Facebook post early Wednesday. Grid operators, he said, were implementing “necessary consumption restriction measures to minimize negative consequences for the energy system.”
When the security situation permits, “the power companies will specify the damage caused,” Galushchenko said. Stay tuned for official announcements. Stay in shelters while the danger exists!”
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden issued a statement condemning Russia’s Christmas Day attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid.
Biden called the strikes “outrageous” and said Ukrainians deserve heat and electricity in the winter.
“Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia’s aggression,” Biden told reporters.
Biden praised his administration’s efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s security capabilities, noting that additional air defenses are “on the way.”
In a statement posted to X, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated, “This Christmas terror is Putin’s response to those who spoke about the illusionary ‘Christmas ceasefire’.”
“One Russian missile passed Moldovan and Romanian airspace, reminding that Russia threatens not only Ukraine,” Sybiha reported.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated on Telegram that it “carried out a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones on critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex.”
“The strike’s goal was achieved,” the ministry stated. “All facilities were hit.”
The ministry stated that its forces shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight.
This year marks the second time Ukraine will officially celebrate Christmas on December 25. Many Ukrainians used to celebrate Christmas in January according to the Orthodox calendar, as do Russian Orthodox Christians today.
“For the second time, we celebrate Christmas on the same date as one big family, one country,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram Tuesday. “For the second time in modern history, Christmas unites all Ukrainians.”
“We stand together, and we will not be lost,” Zelenskyy added. “In person, from afar, or in our hearts, Ukrainians are united today. And as long as we do this, evil will have no chance.
