Russia Launches Over 100 Missiles on Christmas Day Targeting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure, Kyiv Left Cut Off

Russia Launches Over 100 Missiles on Christmas Day Targeting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure, Kyiv Left Cut Off

Russia has launched another missile attack targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Christmas Day. Wednesday's attack marks the 13th major assault on Ukraine's energy system in 2024, with a focus on the power grid during the winter months.

Ukraine's Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, stated that electricity supply would be rationed to mitigate the effects of the attack. The assault severely damaged equipment at thermal power plants, and power outages were reported in several regions.

Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of Ivano-Frankivsk region, commented, "On Christmas morning, we saw that the aggressor country holds nothing sacred." She explained that part of the region was without electricity while the country was celebrating one of its most significant religious holidays.

In Kyiv, residents were forced to take shelter in metro stations due to the Russian airstrikes, where they spent their Christmas morning safely. In Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, a "massive" missile strike left six people injured, according to the city's mayor.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as "inhumane." He said, "Putin specifically chose Christmas Day for the attack. What could be more inhumane?" Zelensky further revealed that Russia launched over 70 missiles and more than 100 drones, targeting Ukraine's energy system.

Al Jazeera reported that Ukraine's air force was able to destroy over 50 missiles, but some still hit various regions of the cities.

This assault resulted in widespread power cuts in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, where Governor Sergiy Lysak stated that Russia was attempting to destroy the region's energy infrastructure.