War in Ukraine: a “massive” attack against the energy network, the Pope invites “gestures of dialogue”… an update on the situation

Russia launched 'massive' attack on Ukraine's energy network

Russia carried out an attack on Wednesday “massive” against Ukraine's energy grid, hitting cities in the country's east with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, Ukrainian and Russian authorities said. “Today, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane?”lamented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russia has launched more than 70 missiles, some of them ballistic, and more than a hundred attack drones, he added. At least six people were injured in a missile attack in Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehoubov said, while the Ukrainian Air Force reported it was a ballistic missile. Of the “non-residential civil infrastructure” were damaged, Oleh Syniehoubov said via Telegram messaging.

Dnipro Governor Serhiy Lysak also reported a Russian attack on Telegram “massive” on the region. “(The Russian army) is trying to destroy the region's energy system.”he declared. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galuchenko wrote on the social network Facebook that Russia is carrying out an attack “massive against the energy network”.

The network operator imposed restrictions on electricity supply to minimize the impact of the attack, it added. Earlier on Wednesday, Ukraine's military issued a nationwide air alert in response to Russian cruise missile launches. Air defenses shot down 59 of 78 Russian missiles and 54 of 102 drones launched overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, the Ukrainian military said.

The country's largest private energy company, DTEK, reported “serious damage” on its electrical equipment. “This is the 13th massive attack on Ukraine's energy sector this year and the 10th massive attack on the company's energy facilities”DTEK said on Telegram. Local authorities and the Air Force reported missile overflights in the eastern, central, southern and western regions.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Moscow had conducted a “massive strike” against critical energy facilities in Ukraine that support the work of the military-industrial complex. Furthermore, the governor of the Russian region of Kursk reported four dead and five injured after bombings attributed to Ukrainian forces in the town of Lgov.

Russia launched 70 missiles at Ukraine on Christmas Day in 'inhumane' attack

Russia launched more than 70 missiles and more than 100 explosive drones at Ukraine on Wednesday morning with its energy system as a target, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, denouncing an attack “inhumane” on Christmas Day from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

“Today Putin consciously chose Christmas for his attack. What could be more inhumane?” and launched M. Zelensky sur Telegram. “More than 50 missiles” and a portion of drones were able to be shot down but some strikes led to power cuts in certain regions, he added.

Russian missile targeting Ukraine crossed Moldovan and Romanian airspace

A Russian missile targeting Ukraine crossed Moldovan and Romanian airspace during a massive attack by Moscow against its Ukrainian neighbor on Wednesday morning, said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Andriï Sybiga.

“A Russian missile passed through Moldovan and Romanian airspace, which reminds us that Russia does not only threaten Ukraine”launched Mr. Sybiga on the social network

Pope calls to “silence the guns in martyred Ukraine”

Pope Francis called on Wednesday to make “silence the guns in martyred Ukraine”inviting “dialogue gestures” while Russia launched more than 70 missiles into the Ukrainian energy network on Christmas Day in the morning.

“Let the guns be silent in martyred Ukraine! May we have the audacity to open the door to negotiation and gestures of dialogue and meeting, to achieve a just and lasting peace”declared the Argentine pontiff during his Christmas message to the Vatican.

London denounces “Putin's bloody war machine”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced on Wednesday “Putin’s bloody and brutal war machine” after the massive attack by Russian missiles and explosive drones on the Ukrainian energy system, which left one dead on Christmas Day.

“I condemn this attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure”wrote the Labor leader in a press release, saying he wanted “pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the leadership of President Zelensky, in the face of new drone and missile attacks from Putin's bloody and brutal war machine, without any respite, even at Christmas”.