Russia attacks Ukraine with missiles on Christmas: Details
Ukraine is under a massive missile attack (photo: dsns_telegram)
After the night launch of Shahed drones, on Christmas morning, Russia carried out a massive strike on Ukraine, using cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Once again, energy infrastructure was targeted.
Here is the latest update on the mass shelling.
Main updates at the moment
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Tu-95MS launched cruise missiles, and the Russians fired Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea, with ballistic missile launches also reported.
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Kharkiv is under a massive attack. Many explosions have been heard, and repeated missile launches toward the city have been recorded. As a result of the ballistic missile strikes, fires have broken out in the city, and there is damage to infrastructure. There are also reports of casualties.
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Explosions have been heard in several regions, including Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Kremenchuk in the Poltava region, as well as Samar, Kryvyi Rih, Kirovohrad region, Zaporizhzhia, and Svitlovodsk.
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Russia is once again heavily attacking the energy sector. Preemptive power outages have been implemented across Ukraine.
Energy sector is under attack
Ukraine's Minister of Energy, Herman Halushchenko, has stated that the Russian forces are once again targeting energy infrastructure.
"The enemy is once again heavily attacking the energy sector. The transmission system operator is taking necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize negative impacts on the energy system," he wrote.
According to him, as soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will assess the extent of the damage.
In response to the Russian attack, preventive power outages have been implemented across Ukraine.
Kharkiv
A series of explosions have been heard in Kharkiv as the enemy attacks the city with ballistic missiles. Several fires have broken out following the strikes, and there has been damage to civilian non-residential infrastructure.
There are reports of two people in serious condition in the Saltivskyi district. There was also a hit in the Kyivskyi district, where a fire broke out, and the glass of surrounding buildings was damaged.
In the Nemyshlianskyi district, a private house was struck, and one person was injured.
Dnipro
Social media reports also mention a massive attack on Dnipro, where multiple explosions were heard. At least 12 explosions have been reported in the regional center.
Other regions
Explosions have been repeatedly heard in Kremenchuk, Poltava region. In Svitlovodsk (Kirovohrad region), the head of the community, Andrii Malitskyi, reported on the operation of the air defense systems.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, due to a high level of missile threat, municipal transportation was suspended. Additionally, explosions have been reported in Burshtyn, which, during the previous massive missile attack on December 13, was left without heating and hot water.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk reported on the work of the air defense system and also warned that there could be power outages.
Poland scrambles aviation due to the shelling of Ukraine
"Attention, due to a Russian air attack, which may target objects located, including in the western part of Ukraine, military aviation has been activated in our airspace," reads a statement from the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.
In Poland, combat aircraft, ground-based air defense systems, and radar reconnaissance have been put on high alert. These forces and resources are aimed at ensuring the security of the territories adjacent to Ukraine.
Missile flight over Moldova
The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that one of the Russian cruise missiles flew through Moldova on its way to Chernivtsi.
The previous combined Russian attack on Ukraine occurred on December 13. During that attack, the energy sector was also targeted. The Russian army launched 94 missiles and 193 drones. This was one of the most significant strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The Russian forces hit thermal power plants, causing severe damage to equipment, and 5 out of 9 operational power units in Ukraine reduced their capacity due to the Russian strike.
Since February 2022, Russia has been waging a full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Over nearly these three years, the enemy has used virtually all conventional weapons, striking Ukrainian rear areas with long-range drones and missiles.
For more information on the weapons used by Russia during its attacks, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
