Zelenskyy denounces Russia's Christmas Day missile and drone attack on Ukraine as "inhumane"

[ad_1] Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched an enormous missile and drone barrage concentrating on Ukraine's power infrastructure on Wednesday, placing a thermal energy plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning, Ukrainian officers stated.

Individuals take shelter at a metro station throughout an air raid alert amid a Russian assault, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 25, 2024. Thomas Peter / REUTERS

Russia's Protection Ministry stated it had carried out a "large strike" on what it stated had been vital power amenities in Ukraine that help the work of Kyiv's military-industrial advanced, Reuters reported.

The Russian assault left half 1,000,000 folks within the Kharkiv area with out warmth with temperatures just a bit above zero Celsius and there have been blackouts within the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere, Reuters added.

The strikes wounded no less than six folks in Kharkiv and killed one within the Dnipropetrovsk area, the governors there stated, based on Reuters.

In an announcement on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated over 70 missiles, together with ballistic missiles, and over 100 assault drones had been used to strike Ukraine's energy sources.

"Putin intentionally selected Christmas for an assault. What might be extra inhumane?" Zelenskyy stated. "They proceed to battle for a blackout in Ukraine ."

Ukraine shot down 59 of 78 Russian missiles and 54 of 102 drones, Reuters cites Ukraine's army as saying.

"Within the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones towards Ukrainian cities and important power infrastructure. The aim of this outrageous assault was to chop off the Ukrainian folks's entry to warmth and electrical energy throughout winter and to jeopardize the security of its grid," President Biden stated Wednesday. "Let me be clear: the Ukrainian folks need to reside in peace and security, and america and the worldwide group should proceed to face with Ukraine till it triumphs over Russia's aggression."

Ukrainian Vitality Minister Herman Halushchenko stated Russia once more "massively assaults power infrastructure," in a Fb assertion. Ukraine's Air Drive famous a number of missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava areas east of the nation.

Rescuers work to place out a fireplace within the wreckage of a home after a drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 25, 2024. SERGEY BOBOK / AFP by way of Getty Pictures

"The (electrical energy) distribution system operator takes the mandatory measures to restrict consumption to attenuate damaging penalties for the facility system," he stated. "As quickly because the safety state of affairs permits, power employees will set up the injury triggered."

Ukraine's largest personal power firm, DTEK, stated Russia struck considered one of its thermal energy vegetation, making it the thirteenth assault on Ukraine's energy grid this yr.

"Denying mild and heat to hundreds of thousands of peace-loving folks as they have a good time Christmas is a wicked and evil act that should be answered," Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account.

Ukrainian state power operator Ukrenergo instituted preemptive energy outages throughout the nation because of a "large missile assault," resulting in electrical energy going out in a number of districts of the capital, Kyiv.

At the least seven strikes focused Kharkiv, sparking fires throughout the town, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At the least three folks had been injured, native authorities stated.

"Kharkiv is beneath large missile hearth. A sequence of explosions rang out within the metropolis and there are nonetheless ballistic missiles flying within the path of the town. Keep in secure locations," Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated.

Ukraine's power grid has been closely focused since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of "terror" ways by attempting to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and reduce off heating to civilians all through the winter.