Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched a large missile and drone barrage concentrating on Ukraine’s power infrastructure on Wednesday, putting a thermal energy plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning, Ukrainian officers mentioned.
Folks take shelter at a metro station throughout an air raid alert amid a Russian assault, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 25, 2024.
Thomas Peter / REUTERS
Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned it had carried out a “huge strike” on what it mentioned have been crucial power services in Ukraine that help the work of Kyiv’s military-industrial advanced, Reuters reported.
The Russian assault left half 1,000,000 folks within the Kharkiv area with out warmth with temperatures just a bit above zero Celsius and there have been blackouts within the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere, Reuters added.
The strikes wounded at the very least six folks in Kharkiv and killed one within the Dnipropetrovsk area, the governors there mentioned, based on Reuters.
In a press release on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned over 70 missiles, together with ballistic missiles, and over 100 assault drones have been used to strike Ukraine’s energy sources.
“Putin intentionally selected Christmas for an assault. What could possibly be extra inhumane?” Zelenskyy mentioned. “They proceed to battle for a blackout in Ukraine.”
Ukraine shot down 59 of 78 Russian missiles and 54 of 102 drones, Reuters cites Ukraine’s army as saying.
“Within the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones in opposition to Ukrainian cities and significant power infrastructure. The aim of this outrageous assault was to chop off the Ukrainian folks’s entry to warmth and electrical energy throughout winter and to jeopardize the security of its grid,” President Biden mentioned Wednesday. “Let me be clear: the Ukrainian folks should reside in peace and security, and america and the worldwide neighborhood should proceed to face with Ukraine till it triumphs over Russia’s aggression.”
Ukrainian Vitality Minister Herman Halushchenko mentioned Russia once more “massively assaults power infrastructure,” in a Fb assertion. Ukraine’s Air Drive famous a number of missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava areas east of the nation.
Rescuers work to place out a hearth within the wreckage of a home after a drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 25, 2024.
SERGEY BOBOK / AFP by way of Getty Pictures
“The (electrical energy) distribution system operator takes the mandatory measures to restrict consumption to reduce unfavorable penalties for the ability system,” he mentioned. “As quickly because the safety state of affairs permits, power staff will set up the harm triggered.”
Ukraine’s greatest personal power firm, DTEK, mentioned Russia struck certainly one of its thermal energy vegetation, making it the thirteenth assault on Ukraine’s energy grid this yr.
“Denying gentle and heat to thousands and thousands of peace-loving folks as they have a good time Christmas is a wicked and evil act that should be answered,” Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account.
Ukrainian state power operator Ukrenergo instituted preemptive energy outages throughout the nation as a consequence 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 folks have been injured, native authorities mentioned.
“Kharkiv is underneath huge missile fireplace. A collection of explosions rang out within the metropolis and there are nonetheless ballistic missiles flying within the course of town. Keep in protected locations,” Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov mentioned.
Ukraine’s power grid has been closely focused since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “terror” ways by attempting to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and minimize off heating to civilians all through the winter.
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