Russia has launched a massive combined attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to leave the country in darkness in the middle of Christmas. Moscow began firing drones on Christmas Eve. On the morning of December 25, it launched ballistic and cruise missiles that traveled through the country’s frozen sky. It is the 13th time this year that Moscow has attacked the Ukrainian energy system.
This is the second year that Ukraine celebrates Christmas on December 25, instead of January 7, the traditional date of Russian Orthodox Christianity. “[El presidente ruso Vladímir] Putin has purposely chosen Christmas to attack. “What could be more inhumane?” Volodymyr Zelensky denounced in energy, but the final number could vary. Additionally, new shootings have occurred since he posted his message. “They continue fighting to plunge Ukraine into a blackout,” he lamented.
The northeastern city of Kharkiv has been one of the hardest hit by ballistic missile launches. At least six civilians have been injured, according to regional governor Oleg Sinegubov. Explosions were also reported in Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Krivi Rih, and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk. On Christmas Eve an attack in Krivi Rih killed one person and injured 15.
“The enemy attacks the energy again massively. The transmission network manager takes the necessary consumption restriction measures to minimize the negative consequences for the energy system,” Energy Minister German Galushchenkosaid wrote on Facebook shortly before seven, when the attack was still ongoing. .
The operator of the electric transmission system in Ukraine, Ukrenergo, announced emergency cuts in electricity supply in several regions. The country’s largest private energy company, DTEK, reported “serious damage” to its power generation facilities.
After the intensity of the drone movement, which is usually a prelude to a missile attack, after 1 a.m. the Ukrainian Air Forces announced the takeoff of several TU-95MS aircraft from the Olenya air base, in the Russian region of Murmansk. When there was no longer any doubt that the attack was imminent at dawn, the Telegram channel War Monitor, a reference in the warning and monitoring of the attacks, also warned that the Russian army had deployed missile frigates in the Black Sea. The anti-aircraft alert was activated throughout the country and at 5:30 the launch of Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea began.
A missile crossed the airspace of Moldova and Romania for 140 kilometers, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. It passed from the Yampil district to the Chernivtsi region, flying over the airspace of both countries. “A reminder that Russia does not only threaten Ukraine,” wrote the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sibiga, in X. Poland, given the threat that a projectile aimed at border areas in western Ukraine could sneak into its territory , as has already happened on several occasions, activated combat aircraft. The ground air defense and radar reconnaissance systems reached the maximum state of readiness, as reported by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.
Repeated attacks since spring 2024 have damaged nearly half of Ukraine’s power generation capacity and caused hours-long blackouts across the country. December began with daily outages for stretches of an average of six hours, while the electrical grid recovered from the attack on November 28. On December 13, Moscow launched another 193 drones and 94 cruise and ballistic missiles. After a few first days of longer outages while repair work was carried out, the last week the electricity had flowed without time restrictions in regions such as kyiv.
