Russia launches ‘massive’ Christmas day attack on Ukraine, as Zelenskyy slams ‘inhumane’ Putin

25 December 2024, 08:27 | Updated: 25 December 2024, 12:38

The people of Kyiv spent Christmas morning underground, after Russia launched its latest attack on Ukraine’s energy grid.

Much of Ukraine was plunged into darkness today after Vladimir Putin’s forces launched their latest attack on the country’s infrastructure.

Responding to the attack on Telegram, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: "Every Russian massive strike takes time to prepare. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a conscious choice not only of targets, but also of time and date.

"Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred strike drones. The targets are our energy sector. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.

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"According to preliminary data, our defenders managed to shoot down more than 50 missiles and a significant part of the drones. Unfortunately, there are hits. As of now, there are outages in several regions. Energy workers are working to restore the power supply as soon as possible.

"Thank you to everyone who is currently working for the country, who is on combat duty, who is protecting our sky. Let's restore the maximum. Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not distort Christmas."

At least six people have been injured in the attacks.

While most Ukrainians will celebrate Christmas in January, Zelenskyy highlighted that all of his people will be united today in the face of Russia’s attack.

“For the second time, we celebrate Christmas on the same date as one big family, one country,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Tuesday. “For the second time in modern history, Christmas unites all Ukrainians.”

“Today, we stand side by side, and we will not be lost,” Zelenskyy added. “In person, from afar, or in our hearts -- Ukrainians are together today. And as long as we do this, evil has no chance.”

Ukrainian energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, said Russia again "massively attacks energy infrastructure" in a Facebook statement.

Ukraine's Air Force said multiple missiles were fired at the Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava regions in the east of the country.

"The (electricity) distribution system operator takes the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimise negative consequences for the power system," Mr Halushchenko said.

"As soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will establish the damage caused."

Ukraine's biggest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia struck one of their thermal power plants on Wednesday morning, making it the 13th attack on Ukraine's power grid this year.

"Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered," Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK wrote on his X account.

Ukrainian state energy operator, Ukrenergo, applied pre-emptive power outages across the country, due to a "massive missile attack" leading to electricity going out in several districts of the capital, Kyiv.

At least seven strikes targeted Kharkiv sparking fires across the city, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At least three people were injured, local authorities said.

"Kharkiv is under massive missile fire. A series of explosions rang out in the city and there are still ballistic missiles flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places," Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Russia's strikes on Ukraine's energy grid "with no respite even at Christmas".

Responding to the attacks, the Prime Minister said: "I pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the leadership of President Zelensky, in the face of further drone and missile attacks from Putin's bloody and brutal war machine, with no respite, even at Christmas."

He added: "As we go into the New Year, it remains vital that we redouble our resolve to place Ukraine in the strongest possible position to end Russia's illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people."