By Adeyemi Adekunle
Russian forces unleashed more than 70 missiles on Ukraine on Christmas Day, targeting the nation’s energy infrastructure and plunging millions into darkness. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it a deliberate and inhumane act timed to inflict maximum psychological and physical harm during the holiday season.
“Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane?” Zelenskyy said in a somber address, highlighting the stark reality of a nation under siege.
The coordinated assault involved a devastating combination of 70 missiles and 106 drones, according to Ukraine’s military. While Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 59 of the missiles and 54 drones, the damage inflicted by those that breached the country’s defenses was substantial. The strikes targeted critical energy facilities in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia, leaving swathes of the population without power in the heart of winter.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, the attacks were particularly severe. Mayor Igor Terekhov described a “massive missile attack,” compounded by subsequent strikes from Russian drones. Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, reported significant damage to civilian infrastructure, with at least six people injured.
In Kyiv, the capital, the sound of air raid sirens punctuated the holiday quiet, as residents scrambled for shelter. Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, confirmed that Russian missiles caused “serious damage” to thermal power generation facilities, leading to widespread outages in Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Kyiv.
“In an attack aimed at millions of Ukrainians simply wanting to celebrate the holy day, Russia caused serious damage to DTEK thermal generation facilities,” the company said in a statement.
The international community reacted swiftly to the assault. U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attacks as a deliberate effort to weaponize winter against the Ukrainian people.
“The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid,” Biden said in a statement. “Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety.”
Biden reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine, confirming that the Department of Defense would expedite deliveries of air defense missiles and other weaponry. “We have provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way,” he added.
The Russian Defense Ministry, for its part, claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating that they targeted critical energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s military operations. However, the toll on civilian life and infrastructure has been catastrophic.
The conflict extended beyond Ukraine’s borders, with Russian officials reporting a surge in Ukrainian drone activity. Moscow claimed its air defenses intercepted 58 Ukrainian aerial drones, with 26 shot down over the Belgorod region and 23 over Voronezh. Additional intercepts were reported over Kursk, Bryansk, Tambov, and the Sea of Azov.
The aftermath of these attacks was felt acutely in Russia’s border regions. Officials in Kursk reported that Ukrainian shelling killed three people, while Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev confirmed damage to several houses and a power line in his region.
The unprecedented Christmas assault marks yet another escalation in a conflict that has defied seasonal respite. Zelenskyy, while condemning the attack, expressed resilience and gratitude for Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, which prevented even greater devastation.
