Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned Russia’s “inhumane” attack on his war-torn country’s power grid on Christmas Day, resulting in widespread blackouts and at least one fatality. The assault, which involved over 170 missiles and drones, marked the 13th large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy system this year.
The attack began at 5:30 am local time, with air raid alarms sounding across the country, followed by reports from the Ukrainian air force that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. President Zelensky described the attack, saying, “Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones. The target is our energy system.”
Ukraine’s air force successfully shot down over 50 missiles, according to President Zelensky. However, some missiles still hit their targets, causing significant damage to the country’s power infrastructure. “Unfortunately, there are some hits. As of now, there are blackouts in several regions,” Zelensky acknowledged.
The attack severely damaged equipment at thermal power plants, according to Ukraine’s DTEK energy company. CEO Maxim Timchenko condemned the attack, stating, “Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered.” Timchenko urged Ukraine’s allies to provide additional air defense support.
Regional officials reported power cuts, with engineers working to repair the damaged energy system. Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, noted, “Christmas morning has once again shown that nothing is sacred for the aggressor country.” Onyshchuk added that part of the region was without electricity “at a time when we celebrate one of the greatest religious holidays — the bright Christmas.”
Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on December 25, a change made last year to align with Western Christian traditions, rather than the Orthodox Christmas on January 7. This move was seen as a snub to Russia.
The Christmas Day attack targeted central Dnipropetrovsk, with Governor Sergiy Lysak stating that Russia was “trying to destroy the region’s power system.” The assault resulted in at least one fatality in Dnipropetrovsk.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, located near the Russian border, Mayor Igor Terekhov reported that Russia launched 12 missiles targeting the city’s boiler houses, thermal power plants, and electricity facilities. The attack wounded four people and cut off heating to part of the city.
Kharkiv’s Governor Oleg Synegubov announced that authorities had evacuated 46 people from the areas of Borivske and Kupiansk. Russian forces have been attempting to recapture the town of Kupiansk, which was occupied early in the war but retaken by Ukraine in September 2022.
President Zelensky expressed gratitude to those working to protect the country, saying, “I am grateful to everyone who is working for the country, who is on combat duty, who is protecting our sky.” He also vowed that Ukraine would not be broken by Russian aggression, stating, “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not ruin Christmas.”
