On Christmas Day, Russia launched a brutal and “inhumane” assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, sparking explosions across the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling out Russia’s cruelty and the deliberate timing of the strikes. This marked the thirteenth major attack on Ukraine's power grid in 2024, according to DTEK, Ukraine's largest energy provider. The ongoing barrage of strikes has left Ukraine in a vulnerable position, enduring a third harsh winter of war.
This latest assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was devastating. At least one person lost their life in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, while six others were injured in Kharkiv, a city less than 20 miles from the Russian border. Residential buildings and vital civilian infrastructure were heavily damaged in the attacks. Kharkiv alone endured at least seven missile strikes, as reported by regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. The damage was extensive, with parts of the city left in ruins.
The impact on the people of Ukraine was immediate and severe. In Kharkiv, half a million households were left without heating amidst freezing temperatures of 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit). To try to stabilize the strained power grid, Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was forced to impose rolling blackouts. The energy company, DTEK, reported these blackouts as a response to the overwhelming strain caused by the Russian missile and drone attacks on critical infrastructure.
The timing of this particular attack struck a painful chord. Prior to 2023, most Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on January 7 according to the Julian church calendar. However, in a move to distance itself from Russian influences, Ukraine adopted December 25 as the official Christmas date, aligning itself with much of Europe. This decision, signed into law by President Zelensky last year, was symbolic of Ukraine’s growing national identity and its break from Russian Orthodoxy. The shift also came after Ukraine created its own independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018, splitting from the Moscow-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
Zelensky didn’t mince words when commenting on the attack. “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,” he said. "Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane?" It’s clear that the timing of the attack was no coincidence; it was an act of calculated malice, designed to bring even more suffering to Ukraine during a time of holiday observance.
On the day of the assault, Russia launched more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and over 100 attack drones aimed squarely at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. In an act of defense, Ukraine’s air defenses successfully shot down more than 50 missiles and a significant number of drones. Despite this, the damage was significant, with blackouts reported in several regions. DTEK confirmed that its thermal power plants were severely damaged, marking the tenth major attack on the company’s energy facilities since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“This year, it is the thirteenth massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the tenth massive attack on the company’s energy facilities,” DTEK reported. In total, more than 200 shelling attacks have targeted Ukraine’s power plants. The Russian assaults on Ukraine's energy sector have left the country in a precarious situation, forcing widespread blackouts and placing immense strain on Ukraine’s already battered infrastructure.
The damage from these attacks is not just felt within Ukraine’s borders. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, took to social media to highlight the broader implications, pointing out that a Russian missile passed through the airspace of Moldova and Romania before hitting Ukrainian territory. Sybiha’s statement serves as a stark reminder that Russia’s actions are a threat to more than just Ukraine. The attack’s reach is international, endangering neighboring countries and violating international law.
Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, condemned Russia’s actions, expressing solidarity with Ukraine. “While our countries celebrate Christmas, the Kremlin chooses destruction,” Sandu said. “Targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and violating Moldova’s airspace with a missile, actions that clearly violate international law.” Romania’s Ministry of National Defense, however, could not confirm that the missile had crossed its airspace. Poland also responded to the threat, scrambling fighter jets in response to the missile threat aimed at western Ukraine, according to the Polish Operational Command.
This attack on Christmas Day follows a deadly missile strike just the day before, on Christmas Eve. In the city of Kryvyi Rih, a Russian missile struck a residential building, killing at least one person and injuring 17 others. Kryvyi Rih is the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding another layer of personal grief to the tragedy. The attack highlighted the ongoing danger faced by civilians across Ukraine, with no region immune to the destruction brought by Russian forces.
The scale and frequency of these attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have left the country’s citizens grappling with daily hardships. Despite the heroic efforts of Ukraine’s military and air defense systems, the repeated missile strikes continue to inflict damage on essential services. Hospitals, schools, and homes are all vulnerable to the relentless bombardment. The attacks also have a cascading effect, leaving millions without reliable access to power, heating, and water during the cold winter months. The Russian strategy appears aimed at not just crippling Ukraine’s military capabilities but at breaking the resolve of the Ukrainian people by targeting their most essential needs.
Ukraine’s energy sector, though severely battered, has shown resilience in the face of these attacks. The energy ministry, led by German Halushchenko, reported that emergency blackouts were implemented in multiple regions to help manage the damage and prevent further strain on the power grid. But with each new attack, Ukraine is left to pick up the pieces, rebuild, and try to maintain some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos of war.
As this brutal war enters its third winter, the people of Ukraine continue to endure hardships that most of the world cannot begin to fathom. With every missile strike, Russia aims to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people. But despite the cold, the blackouts, and the ongoing destruction, Ukraine’s resolve remains unbroken. The fight for their energy infrastructure is just one part of the broader struggle for sovereignty, freedom, and independence from Russian aggression.
The holiday season, once a time of peace and celebration, has been transformed into a period of hardship and fear for the people of Ukraine. Yet, their unwavering courage in the face of such cruelty serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the resolve to protect one’s homeland, no matter the cost.
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