Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched a large missile and drone barrage focusing on Ukraine’s vitality infrastructure on Wednesday, hanging a thermal energy plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning, Ukrainian officers stated.
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Russia’s Protection Ministry stated it had carried out a “massive strike” on what it stated have been crucial vitality amenities in Ukraine that help the work of Kyiv’s military-industrial advanced, Reuters reported.
In a press release on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated over 70 missiles, together with ballistic missiles, and over 100 assault drones have been used to strike Ukraine’s energy sources.
“Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane?” Zelenskyy stated. “They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.”
Ukraine shot down 59 of 78 Russian missiles and 54 of 102 drones, Reuters cites Ukraine’s army as saying.
Ukrainian Power Minister Herman Halushchenko stated Russia once more “massively attacks energy infrastructure,” in a Fb assertion. Ukraine’s Air Pressure famous a number of missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava areas east of the nation.
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“The (electricity) distribution system operator takes the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize negative consequences for the power system,” he stated. “As soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will establish the damage caused.”
Ukraine’s largest personal vitality firm, DTEK, stated Russia struck one among its thermal energy vegetation, making it the thirteenth assault on Ukraine’s energy grid this yr.
“Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,” Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account.
Ukrainian state vitality operator Ukrenergo instituted preemptive energy outages throughout the nation attributable to a “massive missile attack,” resulting in electrical energy going out in a number of districts of the capital, Kyiv.
At the least seven strikes focused Kharkiv, sparking fires throughout the town, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At the least three folks have been injured, native authorities stated.
“Kharkiv is under massive missile fire. A series of explosions rang out in the city and there are still ballistic missiles flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places,” Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated.
Ukraine’s vitality grid has been closely focused since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “terror” ways by making an attempt to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and reduce off heating to civilians all through the winter.
