Christmas break in Ukraine after ‘massive’ Russian strike

LONDON — Ukrainians faced fresh Russian drone and missile attacks on energy infrastructure nationwide Tuesday night into Christmas Day morning, with the energy minister in Kiev warning of immediate blackouts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram: “Any Russian massive attack takes time to prepare. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice not only of targets, but also of time and date.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy said, “deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic, and more than a hundred attack drones. The targets are our 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,” Zelenskyy said. “Unfortunately, there are hits. Right now there are outages in several regions. Energy workers are working to restore the power supply as soon as possible.”

Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 78 missiles of various types into the country, 59 of which were shot down. Russia also launched 106 strike drones, of which 54 were shot down and 52 were lost in flight, the air force added.

“The enemy is attacking energy again massively,” Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote in a statement posted to Facebook early Wednesday. Grid operators, he added, implemented “necessary consumption mitigation measures to minimize negative impacts on the energy system.”

When the security situation allows, “the power companies will specify the damage caused,” Galushchenko added. “Watch for official announcements. As long as danger lasts – stay in shelter!”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a statement sent to X: “This Christmas terror is Putin’s answer to those who talked about illusionary ‘Christmas truce’.”

“A Russian missile passed Moldovan and Romanian airspace and reminds that Russia does not only threaten Ukraine,” Sybiha added.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement sent to Telegram that it “conducted a massive attack with long-range precision weapons and attack drones on critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex.”

“The aim of the strike was achieved,” the ministry said. “All facilities were hit.”

The ministry said its forces also shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight.

This year marks the second time that Ukraine will officially celebrate Christmas on December 25. In the past, many Ukrainians celebrated Christmas in January according to the Orthodox calendar, as Russian Orthodox followers still do.

“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, at a distance or in our hearts – Ukrainians are together today. And as long as we do this, evil has no chance.”