Russia Confirms Strikes, Declares Success
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has issued its first official statement regarding the massive Christmas Day attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The ministry announced that its forces carried out “a massive strike with long-range precision weapons and strike drones on critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex.”
“The strike’s goal was achieved. All facilities were hit,” the statement added.
Kharkiv Faces Continuous Assaults
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, remains under heavy attack. While most of Ukraine experienced a lull in air raid warnings by midday, Kharkiv continues to face threats from enemy drones.
At 13:06 local time, Ukraine’s air force reported the presence of drones near the city and urged residents to stay in shelters. By 13:48, Kharkiv’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, confirmed damage to 74 buildings, including critical energy infrastructure.
Terekhov reported ongoing repairs, stating that 35% of damaged circuits have already been restored.
Zelensky Condemns the Strikes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks “inhumane,” accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of deliberately targeting civilians during the Christmas holiday.
“Denying people light, heat, and safety during a season of peace and goodwill is a clear demonstration of their inhumanity,” Zelensky said in a statement.
Ukraine’s Air Force Details Attack Scope
Ukraine’s air force revealed further details of the assault, describing it as a coordinated attack using “air, ground, and sea-based missiles” alongside drones.
A total of 184 enemy targets were detected, including missiles and drones. By midday, Ukraine claimed to have intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones, while another 52 drones failed to reach their targets.
Regions affected by the strikes include Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zaporizhia. The air force confirmed casualties but did not provide specific numbers.
Kharkiv Mayor Provides Updates
In an earlier statement, Kharkiv’s mayor reported a “massive missile attack on energy facilities” in the city.
Twelve missiles targeted key energy infrastructure, such as boiler houses and power plants, leaving a large portion of the city without heating.
The mayor confirmed that at least four people were injured and assured residents that municipal services were working around the clock to restore heating and normalcy.
