In a merciless assault that shattered any hopes for a peaceful Christmas, Russia unleashed a bloody barrage of missiles on Ukraine’s cities and energy infrastructure on December 25th. The relentless attack, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as “inhuman”, left a trail of destruction and darkness across the war-ravaged nation.
A Christmas Morning Nightmare
As Ukrainian families hoped to find a brief respite from the horrors of war on Christmas morning, they instead awoke to the terrifying sound of Russian missiles raining down from the sky. In a cruel twist of fate, Russian President Vladimir Putin deliberately chose the sacred holiday to launch his latest assault, aiming to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity in the dead of winter.
The attack, which involved more than 70 missiles and over 100 drones, plunged swaths of Ukraine into icy darkness, with the Kharkiv region losing heating for half a million people amid frigid temperatures. Kyiv and other major cities also suffered blackouts as critical energy infrastructure was hit.
“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,” Zelenskyy lamented on Telegram.
Global Outrage and Reaffirmed Support
The blatant targeting of civilian infrastructure on one of the most sacred days of the year sparked immediate global condemnation. United States President Joe Biden slammed the Christmas Day assault as “outrageous” and called on the Department of Defense to maintain its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, the U.S. has committed $175 billion in aid to support the Ukrainian resistance.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the chorus of outrage, condemning Russia’s “bloody and brutal war machine” for showing no respite even on Christmas. He paid tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the leadership of President Zelenskyy in the face of such inhumanity.
Unanswered Questions Amid the Chaos
As the smoke clears from the Christmas Day attacks, several questions remain unanswered. Romania, a NATO member, stated it had not detected any Russian missile passing through its airspace toward Ukraine, despite claims from Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russia faced another setback with the sinking of a cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea, which the vessel’s owner, a company affiliated with Russia’s defense ministry, called an “act of terrorism”.
In the midst of the chaos, one thing remains clear: Putin’s relentless war machine shows no signs of slowing down, even on the most sacred of days. As Ukrainian forces continue to fight valiantly to defend their homeland, the international community must stand united in its support and condemnation of Russia’s brutality.
As the world reflects on this dark Christmas in Ukraine, we are left to wonder: will there ever be peace for the Ukrainian people? Or will Putin’s bloody ambitions continue to shatter any hope for a brighter future? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the resilience and spirit of Ukraine will not be broken, no matter how many missiles rain down from the sky.
