Russia targets Ukraine’s energy infrastructure across cities as millions celebrate Christmas

Ukraine woke up to the sound of air raids instead of bells and carols on Christmas on Wednesday after Russia launched a barrage of missile attacks targeting the country’s energy grid.

Energy Minister German Galushchenko announced that electric supply would be rationed to mitigate the effects of large-scale Russian ballistic and cruise missile attacks.

This was the 13th large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy system this year, the latest in Russia’s campaign targeting the power grid during winter.

Engineers were working to repair the system, but Ukraine’s DTEK energy company said the attack severely damaged the equipment of thermal power plants, and regional officials reported power cuts.

“Christmas morning has once again shown that nothing is sacred for the aggressor country,” said Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

She said part of the region was without electricity “at a time when we celebrate one of the greatest religious holidays – the bright Christmas.”

Meanwhile, Russian air strikes across Ukraine also forced the people of Kyiv to spend their Christmas morning in metro stations where they took shelter. In Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, a “massive” missile attack has left at least six people injured, the mayor said.

‘Inhumane attacks’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday denounced an “inhumane” attack from Russia.

“Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones. The target is our energy system,” Zelensky said.

The air force shot down over 50 missiles, Zelensky said.

“Unfortunately, there are some hits. As of now, there are blackouts in several regions,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Christmas Day attack targeted central Dnipropetrovsk, whose governor Sergiy Lysak said Russia was “trying to destroy the region’s power system.”

Lysak said rescue operations had been completed on the site of a strike on Kryvyi Rig, which killed one person and wounded 17 others the day before.

With inputs from AFP