Zelensky condemns ‘inhumane’ Christmas Day attack
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Photo: AFP Rescuers of the State Emergency Service work to put out a fire in a private house after a drone strike in Kharkiv, on December 25, 2024, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a major attack by Russia on Christmas Day, calling it a “conscious choice” to target his country’s energy infrastructure during the holiday season. The strike, which occurred overnight, involved 184 missiles and drones, according to Ukraine’s air force, though many of the missiles were either intercepted or missed their targets. Despite this, the attack still caused casualties, although the exact number was not disclosed.
Russia confirmed the attack, stating that its forces had carried out a “massive strike” on Ukraine’s critical energy facilities, and claimed that all targets had been successfully hit. This was the 13th major assault on Ukraine’s energy sector in 2023, according to DTEK, the country’s largest private energy company.
In response to the attack, US President Joe Biden condemned the assault as “outrageous” and emphasized its aim to deprive the Ukrainian people of heat and electricity during the harsh winter months. Biden stressed that such an attack jeopardized the safety of Ukraine’s energy grid. He also instructed the US Department of Defense to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine. Zelensky had previously stated that by September, 80% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure had been destroyed by Russian bombardments.
Zelensky, in his remarks following the Christmas Day strikes, described the timing of the attack as a “conscious choice” by Russia. He denounced the strikes as “inhumane” and vowed that efforts would continue to restore power as quickly as possible. “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not distort Christmas,” he declared.
The attack marked the second time Ukraine celebrated Christmas on December 25, a shift from the Julian calendar traditionally followed by the Orthodox Church in Russia, where Christmas falls on January 7. While many Ukrainians observed the change, a significant portion of Orthodox believers continued celebrating Christmas on the previous date.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, the attack left half a million people without electricity, water, or heating amid freezing temperatures. The regional head confirmed the devastating impact of the assault, with much of the city plunged into darkness.
As the attack unfolded early on Christmas morning, air raid sirens blared across Ukraine, prompting citizens to take shelter. In Kyiv, the capital, many sought refuge in metro stations to protect themselves from the strikes. One resident, Sofiia Lytvynenko, expressed her frustration and fear, saying, “Of course, I want to be at home and celebrate, but we had to shelter because it’s scary to stay at home.” Another resident, Oleksandra, maintained that Christmas would go on despite the attacks, adding, “Christmas is not cancelled.” She planned to celebrate with traditional Ukrainian food and drink once it was safe to leave the shelter.
Ukraine’s state-owned power company, Ukrenergo, warned citizens that power cuts could last until at least the end of the day, as repair work was underway. The company imposed usage restrictions to conserve energy while efforts to restore service continued.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined Zelensky in denouncing the attacks, referring to the strikes as “Christmas terror.” He pointed out that one Russian missile had passed through Moldovan and Romanian airspace, highlighting that Russia’s aggression poses a broader regional threat. Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, condemned the missile’s passage through her country’s airspace, while Romania confirmed it had not detected any missiles over its territory.
Meanwhile, in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukrainian shelling resulted in casualties, with four people killed and five others injured. The acting governor of Kursk reported the tragic outcome of the shelling, which added to the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
The Christmas Day attack underscored the ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. Despite the hardships, Zelensky’s message of resilience and determination resonated, with the president vowing that the spirit of Ukraine would remain unbroken, even in the face of such cruel and calculated attacks on its infrastructure and citizens. As Ukraine works to rebuild its energy grid, the international community continues to express outrage over Russia’s tactics and their impact on the civilian population.
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