“Amid global Christmas celebrations, Ukrainians are enduring relentless Russian attacks,” stated Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram.
Kyiv: On Wednesday, a Ukrainian minister reported that Russia initiated a “massive attack” targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, though specific cities were not mentioned. Russian cruise and ballistic missiles hit residential areas in the Ukrainian cities of Kryvyi Rih and Kharkiv, resulting in several reported casualties.
Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine on Wednesday morning, as the air force indicated that Russia launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
Energy Sector Under Siege
“The enemy is once again launching massive attacks on the energy sector,” Ukraine’s Minister of Energy, German Galushchenko, stated on Telegram.
As Moscow intensifies its air raids, Ukraine braces for its harshest winter in nearly three years of conflict, with Russian forces advancing on the eastern frontlines.
“The transmission system operator is implementing necessary measures to limit consumption and minimize the negative impacts on the energy system,” he added.
City Attacks
On Tuesday, a ballistic missile struck an apartment building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, resulting in the death of one person and injuring 15 others, four of whom are in serious condition. “The attackers scored a direct hit on a four-story residential block containing 32 apartments,” wrote Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s military administration, on Telegram.
According to regional governor Serhiy Lysak, medics were unable to revive a man whose body was recovered from beneath the rubble.
Kryvyi Rih, known for its steel industry and with a pre-war population exceeding 600,000, is the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
On Wednesday morning, Kharkiv was also hit by a “massive missile attack,” as reported by Mayor Igor Terekhov. He shared on Telegram, “Kharkiv is under a massive missile attack. A series of explosions were heard in the city, and ballistic missiles are still heading towards it.”
The regional governor noted seven Russian strikes, while Terekhov mentioned that at least three people were injured in the missile attack on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Wednesday morning. The regional governor added that they were still assessing the casualties from the attacks.
Christmas Attacks
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia for executing an “inhumane” attack on his country’s energy infrastructure by launching numerous missiles and drones on Christmas Day.
Zelensky stated, “Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and over a hundred attack drones targeted our energy system.”
The Ukrainian President reported that Russia launched more than 70 missiles and over 100 drones at Ukraine’s energy network.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, also criticized the Russian assault. He wrote on Telegram, “While other countries around the world are celebrating Christmas, Ukrainians continue to suffer from relentless Russian attacks.”
In recent months, Russia has accelerated its offensive across eastern Ukraine, aiming to secure as much territory as possible before US President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January. The Republican leader has pledged to bring a swift end to the nearly three-year conflict but has yet to propose any specific terms for a ceasefire or peace agreement.
Moscow’s forces claim to have captured over 190 Ukrainian settlements this year, with Kyiv struggling to maintain its defenses amid shortages of manpower and ammunition.
On Wednesday, Russia’s defense ministry announced that its forces had successfully shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Kalibr cruise missiles had been launched from the Black Sea, though their intended targets were not immediately clear.
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