Putin launches brutal Christmas Day missile attack on Ukraine as Nato scrambles jets to intercept rocket over Moldova
VLADIMIR Putin targeted vital energy infrastructure in Ukraine with a vicious missile and drone assault, leaving millions without power over Christmas.
Reports of Russian missiles entering Romanian and Moldovan airspace prompted Poland to mobilize fighter jets and put its defenses on high alert, forcing NATO forces to step in.
Families were forced to seek refuge at metro stations as air raid sirens sounded throughout Ukraine, disrupting Christmas celebrations nationwide.
While many people in Kyiv huddled underground in the morning, Kharkiv’s Christmas decorations were dimmed for the majority of the day due to power shortages.
Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, voiced defiance, pointing out that the city’s fortitude has not wavered in the face of constant shelling.
He claimed that although the city is terrorized by the enemy, Kharkiv’s morale remains unbreakable.
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Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, denounced the strikes as cruel and charged that Putin had specifically chosen the holiday to incite fear.
What could be more cruel than launching an assault on Christmas? During a courageous speech, Zelensky said that Russian evil will not destroy Ukraine or ruin our Christmas.
In a concerted attack early on December 25, more than 100 kamikaze drones and more than 70 missiles, including ballistic projectiles, were launched.
At least 50 of the missiles were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, however numerous locations claimed severe damage.
During below-freezing conditions, explosions shook cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava, causing power outages and infrastructural destruction that left millions without water, heat, or electricity.
In Dnipro, where authorities recorded up to 20 explosions, one person was killed and at least six others were injured in Kharkiv.
Herman Halushchenko, the minister of energy, called the strikes “another massive attack on Ukraine’s power grid.”
The adversary is attacking the energy sector once more, he claimed, trying to drive us into the dark and the cold.
The missile attack triggered a swift response from NATO allies.
Poland s Armed Forces scrambled fighter jets and activated air defence systems along its borders, while Moldovan and Romanian authorities condemned the violation of their airspace.
In a clear indication of the escalating regional threat posed by Russia’s actions, Poland’s military emphasized its willingness to maintain security even on holidays.
Tensions in the area have increased as a result of NATO member states having to react to Russian missiles intruding on their airspace twice in December.
Putin’s choice to strike during Ukraine’s Christmas celebrations, which are now observed on December 25 in accordance with Western customs, demonstrates the Kremlin’s use of psychological warfare to undermine the Ukrainian people.
Zelensky pointed out that the timing and scale of the attack suggest a deliberate attempt to overshadow the holiday and deepen the suffering of civilians.
Since this spring, Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been under constant attack, resulting in the damage or destruction of almost half of the nation’s power-generating capacity.
According to state energy provider Ukrenergo, Sunday’s hack was the 13th significant attack on the energy industry this year.
Preemptive blackouts were imposed to mitigate the damage, but the widespread outages have left millions enduring freezing temperatures without reliable access to heat or electricity.
The ongoing targeting of civilians and vital infrastructure by the Kremlin has angered the international community.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the missile strikes as a blatant violation of international law, noting that one missile even crossed into NATO-protected airspace overRomania.
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Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s determination in spite of the destruction.
Every Russian massive strike takes time to prepare. It is a conscious choice of targets, time, and date. But Russian evil will not distort Christmas, and it will not breakUkraine, he vowed.
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