Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a brutal Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine’s power grid, which took place on Christmas Day. The attack, which killed an energy worker, marked the 13th major assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this year.
At 5:30 am local time (3:30 am Irish time), Ukraine was jolted awake by air raid alarms, followed by reports from the Ukrainian Air Force confirming that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. President Zelensky described the timing of the assault as “deliberate,” emphasizing that the attack was “inhumane.” He condemned Russia for targeting Ukraine’s energy system with more than 70 missiles and over 100 drones, including ballistic missiles.
“This is a depraved and evil act,” Zelensky stated, highlighting that the assault denied millions of Ukrainians power during Christmas. The missile barrage was part of a broader Russian strategy to disrupt Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the winter months.
Ukraine’s air defense successfully intercepted 58 of the 79 Russian-launched missiles, but two Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles were not shot down. Russia reported five deaths in Ukrainian strikes on the border regions of Kursk and North Ossetia, as well as a falling drone.
The attack caused widespread damage to thermal power plants, according to Ukraine’s DTEK energy company, which urged international allies to provide more air defense assistance. Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, called the assault an attempt to deny Ukrainians the basic comforts of light and warmth.
In central Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, one energy worker was killed when a missile struck a thermal power plant. Governor Sergiy Lysak confirmed that 42 missiles were intercepted in the region. Elsewhere, rescue operations were completed in Kryvyi Rig, where a recent strike killed one person and injured 17 others.
The missile strikes also targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, near the Russian border. Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov reported that the assault temporarily cut power to around 500,000 residents by hitting critical energy infrastructure. One unexploded missile was discovered in a private yard in the city.
Despite the devastation, Zelensky vowed that Russia’s actions would not break Ukraine’s spirit. “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not ruin Christmas,” he said, praising the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the efforts of the military and engineers working to restore power.
Ukraine celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the second consecutive year, after changing the date from January 7 as a symbol of defiance against Russian influence. The ongoing attacks underscore the grim realities faced by the Ukrainian people as they continue to resist Russia’s invasion.
