Massive Russian missile attacks damaged energy facilities and injured at least three people in Ukraine on Wednesday, the day the country celebrates Christmas on December 25 for the second time in its history.
Russia launched more than 70 missiles and more than 100 explosive drones on Ukraine this Wednesday morning with its energy system as a target, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, denouncing an “inhumane” attack on Christmas Day on the part of his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
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“Today Putin consciously chose Christmas for his attack. What could be more inhumane?” launched Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram. “More than 50 missiles” and some drones were shot down but some strikes led to power cuts in certain regions, he added.
An air alert is in effect throughout Ukrainian territory, while the Air Force reports launches of Russian Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, and authorities in Kharkiv announce the fall of several ballistic missiles on this large city in the east of the country.
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Kharkiv targeted by ballistic missiles
“Kharkiv is being targeted by a massive missile attack,” and “ballistic missiles are still heading towards the city. Stay safe,” Mayor Igor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. “The Russian army carried out at least seven strikes,” said the regional governor of Kharkiv, Oleg Synegoubov, also on Telegram.
According to these two officials, at least three people were injured, and the attacks also caused material damage.
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Missiles from the Black Sea
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 in the center, Poltava in the east , Dnipropetrovsk, in the southeast, Kirovograd and Cherkassy, also in the center.
“Since this morning, the Russian army has been massively attacking the Dnipropetrovsk region. The enemy is trying to destroy the region's electricity network,” said regional governor Sergii Lyssak.
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Electrical restrictions
The national electricity company, Ukrenergo, announced supply restrictions. “The enemy is once again massively attacking the energy sector. The transmission network operator is taking the necessary measures to limit consumption in order to minimize negative consequences for the energy system,” the Ukrainian Minister of Energy wrote on Telegram. 'Energy, German Galushchenko.
“As soon as safety conditions allow, energy sector workers will clarify the damage caused,” he added.
Second celebration on December 25 under the bombs
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.
Wednesday's attacks come on the day when Ukraine, for the second time in its modern history, celebrates Christmas Day 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.
This Christmas trip was made official during the summer of 2023 by a law promulgated by President Volodymyr Zelensky as a sign of defiance towards Russia.
Even more “destruction” promises Vladimir Putin
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised even more “destruction” to Ukraine, after a drone attack on residential buildings in the city of Kazan, a thousand kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
“Anyone who attempts to destroy anything in our country, no matter how small, will face much greater destruction in their own country and will regret what they tried to do to our country,” he said. -he warned.
59 Ukrainian drones intercepted
On Wednesday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that 59 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over Russian territory during the previous night, 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.