Russia launched 70 missiles at Ukraine on Christmas Day, says Volodymyr Zelensky, who denounces an “inhumane” attack

The strikes damaged energy installations, left at least one dead and six injured.

Massive Russian missile attacks damaged energy installations and left at least one dead and six injured in Ukraine on Wednesday December 25. More than 70 missiles and more than 100 explosive drones targeted Ukrainian territory, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram. “Today, [Vladimir] Putin consciously chose Christmas for his attack. What could be more inhumane?”denounced the Ukrainian president. “More than 50 missiles” and some drones were able to be shot down, but some strikes led to power cuts in some areas, he added.

Local authorities reported the fall of several ballistic missiles on Kharkiv. “Stay safe”the mayor of this large city in the east of the country wrote on Telegram. “The Russian army carried out at least seven strikes”specified the regional governor of the region, on the same platform. According to the two officials, at least six people were injured, and the attacks also caused material damage.

“Since this morning, the Russian army has been massively attacking the Dnipropetrovsk region. The enemy is trying to destroy the region's electricity network”also affirmed the governor of Dnipropetrovsk. The strikes left at least one dead, he said. Ukraine's national electricity company, Ukrenergo, has implemented supply restrictions “in order to minimize negative consequences for the energy system”Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on Telegram. “As soon as safety conditions allow, energy workers will clarify the damage caused.”

On Wednesday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry, for its part, announced that 59 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over Russian territory overnight, including 26 in the Belgorod region and 23 in the Voronezh region. Debris from the downed drones damaged a power line and caused minor material damage to several houses, the governor of Voronezh explained on Telegram.

Wednesday's attacks come on the day Ukraine, for the second time in its modern history, celebrates Christmas on December 25 as in the Western world. Until now, the holiday was celebrated on January 7, as in the Julian calendar followed by the Russian Orthodox Church. This Christmas trip was made official during the summer of 2023 by a law promulgated by President Volodymyr Zelensky, as a sign of a break with Russia.