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Russia Strikes Ukraine’s Energy Grid On Christmas, Zelenskyy Condemns Attack

Image: Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
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Russia launched a massive Christmas Day assault on Ukraine, deploying over 70 rockets, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes targeted energy infrastructure, including a thermal power plant, forcing many Ukrainians to seek shelter in metro stations.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces “carried out a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones on critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex”.

“The strike’s goal was achieved. All facilities were hit,” it added.

Zelenskyy Condemns Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on X that Russian President Vladimir Putin deliberately chose Christmas Day to carry out the “inhumane” attack as Christmas is a recognized holiday in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice — not only of targets but also of timing and date,” Zelenskyy said, adding: “They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.”

Russia Targets Ukraine’s Power Grid

Ukraine’s largest private energy firm, DTEK, reported that Russia targeted one of its thermal power plants on Wednesday morning, marking the 13th assault on Ukraine’s power grid this year.

“Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,” Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, wrote on his X account.

As the attack continued, several districts in the region remained without power, marring the Christmas celebrations.

Trump Envoy Slam Russia’s Attack

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, criticized Moscow for its Christmas attack on Wednesday.

“Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day. Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord’s birth is wrong. The world is closely watching actions on both sides. The U.S. is more resolved than ever to bring peace to the region,” Kellogg wrote on X.