(Edits)
By Pavel Polityuk
KYIV (Reuters) -Russia attacked Ukraine’s power system and a few cities with cruise and ballistic missiles plus drones on Wednesday in an “inhuman” Christmas Day assault, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned.
Almost three years into the conflict, the strikes wounded not less than six folks within the northeastern metropolis of Kharkiv and killed one within the area of Dnipropetrovsk, the governors there mentioned.
Half one million folks in Kharkiv area have been left with out heating, in temperatures only a few levels Celsius above zero, whereas there have been blackouts within the capital Kyiv and elsewhere.
“Today, (Russian President Vladimir) 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,” he mentioned.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed it had carried out a “massive strike” on what it mentioned have been crucial power services supporting the work of Kyiv’s “military-industrial complex”.
“The aim of the strike was achieved. All facilities have been hit,” it mentioned in a press release.
Ukraine’s army mentioned its air defences downed 59 Russian missiles and 54 drones in a single day and on Wednesday morning.
Ukrainians have been marking their second Christmas on Wednesday, in response to a brand new calendar in one other step in the direction of erasing Russian affect.
Most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians and the impartial Orthodox Church of Ukraine, arrange in 2018, agreed in 2023 to maneuver away from the standard Julian calendar utilized in Russia the place Christmas is Jan. 7.
Russia has intensified assaults on the Ukrainian power sector since spring of this yr, damaging nearly half of its producing capability and inflicting extended blackouts.
‘RUSSIA WEAPONIZES WINTER’
Ukraine’s air power mentioned Kharkiv was attacked by ballistic missiles. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov mentioned on Telegram there was injury to civilian non-residential infrastructure, with out giving extra element.
Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak mentioned the fatality there occurred in an assault on regional energy services.
“Since the morning, the Russian army has been massively attacking the Dnipro region. It is trying to destroy the region’s power system,” he mentioned.
Ukraine’s Vitality Minister German Galushchenko mentioned on Fb (NASDAQ:) that Russia was massively attacking the facility sector and that restrictions on electrical energy provide have been in place.
Ukraine’s largest non-public power firm DTEK mentioned its producing services have been attacked, with energy gear significantly broken, within the thirteenth large-scale assault on the power sector this yr.
“We appeal to every ally of Ukraine to end this state-sponsored terrorism now by giving our armed forces the air defence ammunition they need to protect essential energy infrastructure,” DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko mentioned in a press release.
“Russia’s Christmas gift to Ukraine: more than 70 missiles and 100 drones, directed at Ukrainian families celebrating in their homes and the energy infrastructure that keeps them warm,” mentioned U.S. ambassador Bridget Brink.
“For the third holiday season, Russia weaponizes winter.”
