(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 no less than six individuals within the northeastern metropolis of Kharkiv and killed one within the area of Dnipropetrovsk, the governors there mentioned.
Half one million individuals 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.
“Immediately, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin intentionally selected Christmas to assault. What might be extra inhuman? Greater than 70 missiles, together with ballistic missiles, and greater than 100 assault drones,” he mentioned.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed it had carried out a “large strike” on what it mentioned have been important power services supporting the work of Kyiv’s “military-industrial complicated”.
“The intention of the strike was achieved. All services 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 line with 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 normal 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 pressure mentioned Kharkiv was attacked by ballistic missiles. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov mentioned on Telegram there was harm 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.
“Because the morning, the Russian military has been massively attacking the Dnipro area. It’s making an attempt to destroy the area’s energy system,” he mentioned.
Ukraine’s Power 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 tools significantly broken, within the thirteenth large-scale assault on the power sector this yr.
“We attraction to each ally of Ukraine to finish this state-sponsored terrorism now by giving our armed forces the air defence ammunition they should shield important power infrastructure,” DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko mentioned in a press release.
“Russia’s Christmas present to Ukraine: greater than 70 missiles and 100 drones, directed at Ukrainian households celebrating of their houses and the power infrastructure that retains them heat,” mentioned U.S. ambassador Bridget Brink.
“For the third vacation season, Russia weaponizes winter.”
