Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘inhumane’ Christmas Day airstrikes injuring 6

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine on Wednesday accused Russia of launching “inhumane” Christmas Day airstrikes across the country, injuring at least six people.

“Today, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred attack drones. The targets are our energy infrastructure,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X.

Claiming that more than 50 missiles and a “significant number” of drones were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, Zelenskyy said, adding that there are power outages in several regions.

“Power engineers are working to restore power supply as soon as possible,” Zelenskyy further said.

Ukraine’s national power grid operator Ukrenergo said on Telegram measures to limit consumption have been implemented due to the attack, which took place overnight and in the morning.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian private energy provider DTEK said that the attack on energy infrastructure also led to “serious damages” to equipment of thermal power plants in the country.

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said that six people were injured during morning strikes in the region’s administrative center, which is located about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the Russian border.

Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram that an administrative building, a nine-story building, and a private house were damaged in the city of Dnipro.

In a later statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said it carried out massive strike 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.