In a chilling display of aggression on what should have been a peaceful Christmas morning, Russia unleashed a devastating wave of cruise and ballistic missile strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The attack, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried as “inhuman,” left several regions grappling with power outages and civilian casualties.
Over 70 Missiles Rain Down on Ukraine
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched a staggering barrage of more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to cripple Ukraine’s energy system on Christmas Day. Zelenskyy pulled no punches in his condemnation of the attack, directly calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin:
Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhuman? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones.
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The missile strikes resulted in power restrictions being imposed by Ukraine’s transmission system operator to minimize the impact on the already battered energy grid. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed that the attack was clearly aimed at causing maximum disruption to the country’s power supply.
Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk Regions Hit Hard
The northeastern city of Kharkiv found itself in the crosshairs of the Russian assault, with Mayor Ihor Terekhov reporting at least three people wounded in the missile strikes. Terekhov described the attack as “massive,” with a series of explosions rocking the city as ballistic missiles rained down from above.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a search and rescue operation launched in the wake of Christmas Eve strikes revealed the grim toll – one person killed and 17 others wounded. Governor Sergiy Lysak shared the somber news, underscoring the human cost of Russia’s relentless attacks.
A Pattern of Targeting Ukraine’s Power Grid
Since the war began in February 2022, Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s power grid, severely damaging almost half of its generating capacity and subjecting the war-torn nation to regular power cuts. Wednesday’s attack marked the 13th massive strike on the energy sector and the 10th targeting facilities operated by Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK.
The timing of the attack, on the first Christmas Day celebrated on December 25th in Ukraine following a shift away from the Russian Orthodox tradition of January 7th, added an extra layer of cruelty to the already dire situation.
A New US President and Uncertain Future
As the war approaches its 3-year mark, both Russia and Ukraine are scrambling to gain the upper hand before Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president in January. Trump has vowed to bring a swift end to the conflict, though concrete terms for a ceasefire or peace deal remain elusive.
Moscow claims to have seized over 190 Ukrainian settlements this year, while Kyiv struggles to hold the line amidst troop and ammunition shortages. The Christmas Day missile strikes serve as a stark reminder that the path to peace is fraught with challenges and the human toll continues to mount.
As the world watches and Ukraine picks up the pieces from yet another devastating attack, the question remains: will the incoming US administration be able to broker a solution to this seemingly intractable conflict? For the sake of the Ukrainian people and the stability of the region, one can only hope that the spirit of peace and goodwill will eventually triumph over the forces of aggression and destruction.
