KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday (Dec 25) denounced an “inhumane” assault from Russia, which launched dozens of missiles and drones on his war-torn nation’s power grid on Christmas Day.
The nation awakened at 5.30am native time to an air raid alarm, shortly adopted by air drive stories that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
“Putin intentionally selected Christmas to assault. What may very well be extra inhumane? Greater than 70 missiles, together with ballistic missiles, and greater than 100 assault drones. The goal is our power system,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
This was the thirteenth large-scale strike on Ukraine’s power system this 12 months, the most recent in Russia’s marketing campaign focusing on the facility grid throughout winter.
The air drive shot down over 50 missiles, Zelenskyy mentioned.
“Sadly, there are some hits. As of now, there are blackouts in a number of areas,” he mentioned.
Engineers had been working to restore the system, however Ukraine’s DTEK power firm mentioned the assault severely broken gear of thermal energy vegetation, and regional officers reported energy cuts.
“Christmas morning has as soon as once more proven that nothing is sacred for the aggressor nation,” mentioned Svitlana Onyshchuk, the pinnacle of the Ivano-Frankivsk area.
She mentioned a part of the area was with out electrical energy “at a time after we rejoice one of many best spiritual holidays – the brilliant Christmas”.
Ukraine is formally celebrating Christmas on Dec 25 for a second 12 months.
The federal government final 12 months modified the date from Jan 7, when most Orthodox believers rejoice, as a snub to Russia.
The Christmas Day assault focused central Dnipropetrovsk, whose governor Sergiy Lysak mentioned Russia was “making an attempt to destroy the area’s energy system”.
