SERGEY BOBOK / AFP
A “massive attack” by Russian missiles is underway on Kharkiv this Wednesday, December 25. (Illustrative photo: A Ukrainian police officer works at the site of a drone attack in Kharkiv on December 20, 2024.)
INTERNATIONAL – A festive day tarnished by the strikes. While Ukraine celebrates Christmas for the second time in its history on December 25, a “massive attack” Russian missiles are underway in Kharkiv this Wednesday, announced the mayor of this large city in eastern Ukraine, Igor Terekhov. At least three people were injured. In total, according to Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin launched more than 70 missiles and around a hundred drones. An act “ inhuman “, he lamented.
“Kharkiv is targeted by a massive missile attack”et “ballistic missiles are still heading towards the city. Stay safe »wrote Igor Terekhov on Telegram. “The Russian army carried out at least seven strikes”specified, also on the same social network, the regional governor of Kharkiv, Oleg Synegoubov.
Electricity restrictions
The Ukrainian Air Force, for its part, reported the launch of Russian Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, and reported that projectiles were heading towards the regions of Vinnytsia (center), Poltava (east), Dnipropetrovsk ( southeast), Kirovograd (center) and Cherkassy (center).
The national electricity company, Ukrenergo, announced supply restrictions due to the massive missile attack.
“The enemy is once again massively attacking the energy sector. The transport network manager takes the necessary measures to limit consumption in order to minimize the negative consequences for the energy system”specified the Ukrainian Minister of Energy, German Galushchenko. “As soon as safety conditions allow, energy sector workers will clarify the damage caused”he added.
Since the start of the war in February 2022, Russia has seriously damaged Ukraine's electricity grid by repeatedly bombing it, causing regular power outages.
Free yourself from Russian traditions
These attacks occur on Christmas Day, which for the second year in a row is celebrated in Ukraine on December 25, as in the Western world, and no longer on January 7 as in the Julian calendar followed by the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky passed a law formalizing the move of Christmas celebrations from January 7 to December 25. “The Ukrainian people have long been subject to Russian ideology in almost all areas of life, including the Julian calendar and the celebration of Christmas on January 7”indicated the explanatory note of the text of the law approved by the deputies. Gold, “ the (…) successful struggle for one's identity contributes to the awareness and desire of each Ukrainian to live their own life, with their own traditions, their own holidays”.
For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 59 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over Russian territory during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, including 26 in the Belgorod region and 23 in the Voronezh region.
Voronezh Governor Aleksandr Gusev wrote on Telegram that debris from the downed drones damaged a power line and caused minor material damage to several houses.
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