KHARKIV, UKRAINE — Ukrainians across the country awoke on Christmas Day to power outages and frigid homes after Russia launched a series of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The assault, which targeted critical energy facilities, was swiftly condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who labeled it as “inhuman.”
The attack involved more than 70 Russian missiles and over a hundred drones, aimed at crippling Ukraine’s energy sector. Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted and shot down more than 50 of these missiles, as well as a significant number of drones, according to Zelenskyy’s update.
The targeted strikes left widespread power outages in several regions, including Kyiv. Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of continuing their campaign to plunge Ukraine into darkness, stating that they are “fighting for a blackout in Ukraine.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense later confirmed the attacks, asserting that the strikes were focused on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which supports the military-industrial complex. In a statement released through Telegram, the ministry declared, “This morning, Russia’s Armed Forces carried out a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones on critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.” They added, “The strike’s objective was achieved. All facilities were hit.”
Despite the chaos caused by the attack, Ukraine’s resolve remains strong, as citizens and officials alike continue to endure the challenges brought on by the ongoing conflict.
