Zelensky condemns devastating Christmas Day attack on Ukraine
On Christmas Day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of making a deliberate choice to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the holiday. The large-scale overnight assault targeted critical energy facilities, leaving millions without power and disrupting celebrations across the war-torn nation.
Ukraine’s air force reported detecting 184 missiles and drones during the attack, a number of which were intercepted or missed their targets. While some casualties were reported, specific figures have not been disclosed. The strikes caused widespread power outages, including in the capital city of Kyiv, where residents sought shelter in metro stations amidst freezing temperatures.
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed the attack, stating its forces conducted a “massive strike” on critical energy facilities. Moscow claimed the operation was a success, asserting that all targets were hit. This marks the 13th significant assault on Ukraine’s energy sector this year, according to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company.
The strikes had a profound impact on cities like Kharkiv, where more than 500,000 residents were left without access to water, electricity, or heating in freezing temperatures. Across Ukraine, air raid sirens blared, urging residents to seek shelter and disrupting Christmas morning celebrations. In Kyiv, many residents took refuge in underground shelters, expressing feelings of fear and frustration over the ongoing attacks. Despite the challenges, some remained determined to uphold holiday traditions, finding ways to celebrate safely with family and friends.
President Zelensky strongly denounced the attacks, describing them as inhumane and emphasizing that their timing was intentional. He assured the nation that efforts were underway to restore power and essential services as quickly as possible. Zelensky reiterated that such acts of aggression would not deter Ukraine’s resilience or diminish the spirit of its people, particularly during the holiday season.
This is the second year Ukraine has celebrated Christmas on December 25, a shift from the traditional Julian calendar observed in Russia, where Christmas is marked on January 7. However, many Orthodox Christians in Ukraine continue to celebrate on the traditional date, reflecting the country’s diverse religious practices.
The strikes drew swift condemnation from international leaders. U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the attacks, calling them an effort to deprive Ukrainians of heat and electricity during winter and jeopardize the country’s power grid. Biden directed the U.S. defense department to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labeled the assault as “Christmas terror,” highlighting that a Russian missile crossed into Moldovan and Romanian airspace, further threatening regional security. Moldova confirmed the incursion, while Romania denied detecting any missile in its airspace.
Meanwhile, in Russia’s Kursk region, four people were killed, and five others were injured by Ukrainian shelling, according to the acting regional governor. This underscores the ongoing reciprocal violence between the two nations, which continues to escalate as the war shows no signs of abating.
Despite the devastation, Zelensky remained resolute, urging Ukrainians to stay united and defiant. He emphasized that Ukraine would persevere through these hardships, working tirelessly to restore normalcy and protect its citizens against further aggression.