Russia massively strikes Ukrainian energy on Christmas: Consequences

Breaking

• Russia strikes Ukraine with Kalibr and ballistic missiles launched from Tu-95MS, and Shahed drones.
• Ukraine's energy infrastructure was attacked once again.
• Russia struck DTEK's thermal power plants, severely damaging equipment.
• Kharkiv came under a massive Russian ballistic missile strike, and a Shahed also hit the city. There were strikes in 3 districts and 6 casualties.
• In the Ivao-Frankivsk region, part of the region was hit and left without electricity for some time.
• There is damage to the energy infrastructure in the Vinnytsia region.
• In the Kirovograd region, a gas pipe caught fire near a private house. Windows in houses were also damaged.
• The energy infrastructure in the Poltava region was damaged by Russian shelling.
• Kyiv region - damaged trucks, private houses, and a coffee shop.
• Due to the large-scale Russian missile attack, Ukrenergo urgently turned off the electricity to save the power grid.
• Russia fired at Ukraine over 70 missiles and more than 100 attack drones. Air defense forces shot down more than 50 missiles and a significant part of drones, - Zelenskyy.
• An employee of a thermal power plant was killed in Dnipro due to Russian shelling.
• Moldova confirms that a Russian missile flew over its and Romania's territories.

Russian attack on Ukrainian energy sector

According to Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, Russian occupiers have once again targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure. As a result, Ukrenergo national energy company introduced preventive blackouts.

Later, DTEK energy company said that the company's thermal power plants were hit during the Russian shelling. The equipment of the TPPs was seriously damaged.

“After the end of the Russian shelling, the power engineers promptly began to eliminate the consequences and restore the equipment,” DTEK said in a statement.

This year it was the 13th massive Russian attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the 10th on DTEK's energy enterprises.

“The Russians attacked the Ukrainian energy sector on Christmas Day. They did everything to leave Ukrainians without electricity, gas, heat, and water,” said Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation.

According to Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery, there are currently heat supply interruptions in some regions:

• Kharkiv region - 500,000 residents are left without heat, which is 2677 houses.
• Dnipropetrovsk region - 55 houses in Dnipro and 100 in Zelenodolsk are without heat supply.
• Ivano-Frankivsk region - 81 residential buildings are without heat.

Russia launched over 70 missiles, - Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already responded to the attack, noting that every Russian massive strike takes time to prepare.

“Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice – not only of targets but also of timing and date. Today, 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. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

According to preliminary data from the President, Ukrainian defenders managed to shoot down more than 50 missiles and a significant number of drones. However, there are hits.

“As of now, there are power outages in several regions. Power engineers are working to restore power supply as soon as possible,” Zelenskyy added.

Kharkiv region

The first explosions were heard in the city around 6 a.m. Kyiv time. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that ballistic missiles had been launched in the direction of Kharkiv. Later, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, clarified that at least seven explosions were heard in the city. Meanwhile, the network reports that 11 explosions were counted in 27 seconds in Kharkiv.

Later it became known about the hits in Saltivskyi, Kyivskyi, and Nemyshlianskyi districts. In total, there are currently 6 victims in Kharkiv. After the Russian ballistic missile attacks, a Russian Shahed hit a private house in the city.

According to Terekhov, Russia launched 12 missiles at the city, all of which were aimed at boiler houses, thermal power plants, and power generation facilities.

“As a result of the Russian shelling of Ukrenergo, special schedules of power outages have been introduced in Kharkiv. Soon, the schedules of emergency shutdowns should appear on the website of the power company. A large part of Kharkiv is without heating as a result of the attack on the heat and power facilities,” the mayor said.

He added that there are currently 4 victims in Kharkiv (while the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration reports 6). Private residential buildings were also damaged.

At the same time, the city managed to ensure the normal operation of public transport.

Ivano-Frankivsk region

During the Russian attack, explosions were heard in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. In the regional center itself, there were no strikes and no debris, Mayor Ruslan Martsinkiv wrote. However, he warned of power outages and poor communication in certain areas.

Meanwhile, Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration, said that Russia had struck the Ivano-Frankivsk region. As a result, part of the region was left without electricity, namely residents of Kalush, Burshtyn, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

Later, Prykarpattyaoblenergo reported that in the morning, due to the Russian attack on Ukrainian energy facilities, 35 (110) kV power lines were shut down. This resulted in a limited power supply in dozens of settlements in the region. However, now they are all back in power, power engineers say.

However, the city of Kalush was left without a water supply after the Russian attack due to the de-energization of the treatment facilities, Kalush Mayor Andrii Naida said in a Telegram message.

According to him, there is also no heat supply in the city, and there are power outages. In the morning, social institutions and hospitals had to switch to generators.

Vinnytsia region

In the Vinnytsia region, as a result of the Russian night attack, there is damage to the energy infrastructure. First Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration Natalia Zabolotna said that as of the morning, thanks to the coordinated work of power engineers, all consumers are supplied with electricity.

Zhytomyr region

Last night, as a result of a Russian attack on the Zhytomyr district, a wooden abandoned building was damaged, and a barn caught fire, said Vitalii Bunechko, head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration.

“Thanks to the professional actions of the State Emergency Service, the fire was extinguished in 30 minutes. No one was injured or killed,” he added.

Photo: consequences of the Russian night attack in Zhytomyr district (facebook.com/MNSZhytomyr)

Kyiv region

Ukrainian air defense forces were operating in the Kyiv region. Russian targets were shot down. There were no hits to critical or residential infrastructure.

However, 12 trucks, a cafe, and 3 private houses were damaged as a result of falling debris from downed Russian targets in 2 districts. Windows and doors were smashed, facades were cut and roofs were damaged.

Dnipro

Many explosions were heard in Dnipro. However, the local authorities did not report any consequences of the attack in the city and region. In the regional center, there were problems with water supply in several neighborhoods. The reason was an emergency shutdown of pumping stations due to power surges, Dniprovodokanal reports.

Kirovohrad region

According to the head of the Regional Military Administration, Andrii Raykovych, a gas pipe caught fire near a private household in the region. Windows in the houses were also damaged.

Photo: the consequences of the Russian attack in the Kirovohrad region (facebook.com/MNSZhytomyr)

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that a fire broke out in a warehouse in the Kirovohrad region over an area of 100 square meters as a result of the fall of debris from a Russian air target.

Poltava region

Russia also attacked the Poltava region. According to preliminary information from the Poltava Regional Military Administration, there is damage to the energy infrastructure in the region and temporary power outages in the Kremenchuk district. Experts are already working to restore it.

Dnipropetrovsk region

The first person killed as a result of the Russian missile attack has been reported.

“A person died as a result of a Russian rocket attack on energy facilities in the region,” said Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration.

Poland raises aircraft, Russian missile enters Moldova

Due to the Russian missile attack on Ukraine, military aircraft operated in Polish airspace. This was reported by the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the attack, one of the Russian missiles flew over the territory of Moldova and headed for Ukraine's Chernivtsi.

Later, Moldova confirmed that a Russian missile flew over its territory and Romania.

According to the government of the Republic of Moldova, one of the missiles launched by Russia was spotted by a patrol in the Yampil-Cosăuţi border area. Subsequently, one of the missiles allegedly crossed Moldovan airspace in the Otaci-Mohyliv-Podilskyi area and came across the border with Romania in the Dorohoi-Hertsa area. The Moldovan side is currently conducting additional checks.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry: 'This Christmas terror is Putin’s response to those who spoke about illusionary 'Christmas ceasefire'.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also reacted to another massive Russian attack on Ukraine's energy system.

“This Christmas terror is Putin’s response to those who spoke about illusionary “Christmas ceasefire”. One Russian missile passed Moldovan and Romanian airspace, reminding that Russia threatens not only Ukraine,” the Minister wrote on X.

Earlier, on December 13, Russia launched one of the largest combined strikes against Ukraine's energy sector, using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones. Russia struck energy facilities in western Ukraine.

During that attack, Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 81 of 94 Russian missiles and 80 of 193 drones, and 105 more drones were lost locally.

On December 20, the Russians attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Debris fell in different districts, damaging offices, embassies, and the ancient St. Nicholas Cathedral in the center of the capital. RBC-Ukraine covered the aftermath.

Sources: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy, DTEK, the State Emergency Service, heads of regional military administrations, and mayors.