Zelenskyy denounces Russian Christmas Day missile and drone assault on Ukraine as
Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched a large missile and drone barrage concentrating on Ukraine’s power infrastructure on Wednesday, placing a thermal energy plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning, Ukrainian officers stated.
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Russia’s Protection Ministry stated it had carried out a “huge strike” on what it stated had been important power amenities in Ukraine that assist the work of Kyiv’s military-industrial complicated, Reuters reported.
In an announcement on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated over 70 missiles, together with ballistic missiles, and over 100 assault drones had been used to strike Ukraine’s energy sources.
“Putin intentionally selected Christmas for an assault. What might be extra inhumane?” Zelenskyy stated. “They proceed to struggle for a blackout in Ukraine.”
Ukraine shot down 59 of 78 Russian missiles and 54 of 102 drones, Reuters cites Ukraine’s navy as saying.
Ukrainian Power Minister Herman Halushchenko stated Russia once more “massively assaults power infrastructure,” in a Fb assertion. Ukraine’s Air Pressure famous a number of missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava areas east of the nation.
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“The (electrical energy) distribution system operator takes the required measures to restrict consumption to reduce unfavorable penalties for the ability system,” he stated. “As quickly because the safety scenario permits, power staff will set up the harm triggered.”
Ukraine’s greatest personal power firm, DTEK, stated Russia struck certainly one of its thermal energy vegetation, making it the thirteenth assault on Ukraine’s energy grid this 12 months.
“Denying mild and heat to thousands and thousands of peace-loving individuals as they have fun Christmas is a wicked and evil act that have to be answered,” Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account.
Ukrainian state power operator Ukrenergo instituted preemptive energy outages throughout the nation because of a “huge missile assault,” resulting in electrical energy going out in a number of districts of the capital, Kyiv.
No less than seven strikes focused Kharkiv, sparking fires throughout town, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. No less than three individuals had been injured, native authorities stated.
“Kharkiv is beneath huge missile fireplace. A collection of explosions rang out within the metropolis and there are nonetheless ballistic missiles flying within the path of town. Keep in protected locations,” Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated.
Ukraine’s power grid has been closely focused since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “terror” techniques by attempting to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and lower off heating to civilians all through the winter.
