The Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenskyhe denounced on Wednesday an “inhumane” attack by Russiawhich On Christmas Day he launched more than 170 missiles and drones against his country’s electrical gridcausing one death and widespread blackouts.
The country woke up at 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) to an anti-aircraft alarm, followed shortly after by air force reports that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
“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 goal is our energy system”Zelensky said.
It is about the 13th large-scale attack on Ukrainian energy system this yearthe latest in the Russian campaign against the power grid during the winter.
A Russian missile crossed Moldovan and Romanian airspacedeclared the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiga, who denounced Russia’s “Christmas terror.” However, Romania, a NATO member country, later stated that it had not detected any Russian missiles.
Ukrainian air forces shot down more than 50 missiles, according to Zelensky.
“Unfortunately, there are some impacts. As of now, there are blackouts in several regions”said.
Ukrainian energy company DTEK said the attack seriously damaged the thermal power plant equipment.
“Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be responded to.”said DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko, urging allies to send more air defense.
Engineers worked to repair the systemwhile regional authorities reported power outages.
“Christmas morning has shown once again that nothing is sacred for the aggressor country”stated Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
He said part of the region was without electricity “at a time when we celebrate one of the biggest religious holidays: the bright Christmas.”
Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on December 25 for the second year in a row.
Last year, the government changed the date from January 7, when most Orthodox believers celebrate it, as a snub to Russia.
The Christmas Day attack targeted the center of Dnipropetrovskwhose governor, Sergiy Lysak, said Russia was “trying to destroy the region’s electrical system”.
The attacks caused death of at least one person in Dnipropetrovskaccording to Lysak.
Rescue operations had been completed at the site of an attack on Kryvyi Rihwhich killed one person and injured 17 others the day before.
Russia launched 12 missiles towards Kharkivthe second largest city in Ukraine, near the Russian border, targeting the boilers, thermal power plants and electrical installations of the citysaid Mayor Igor Terekhov.
The attack injured four people in Kharkiv and left part of the city without heat, he added.
The governor of Kharkiv, Oleg Synegubovalso said that authorities had evacuated 46 people from the Borivske and Kupiansk area.
Moscow’s forces intend reconquer the city of Kupianskoccupied in the first year of the war.
Ukraine reconquered it in September 2022 as part of a lightning offensive in which his forces recaptured large swaths of the Kharkiv region.
Outnumbered Ukrainian troops are in the rear of the front line in the region of Kharkiv y Donetskfurther south, ceding ground to better equipped Russian troops.
Russian strikes killed a resident of the Donetsk region the day before, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.
Both sides struggle to gain ground ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugurationwhich boasted that it would quickly end the war, raising fears that Washington could force kyiv to agree to Moscow’s conditions.
Ukraine has been urging its allies to send more help to repel airstrikes and push back troops on the ground.
“I am grateful to everyone who works for the country, to those who are in combat and protect our sky,” Zelensky declared.
“Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not ruin Christmas”Zelensky stated.
(With information from AFP)
