December 25th 2024.
On Christmas morning, a devastating attack was launched by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The missiles and drones targeted various fuel and energy sources, including a thermal power plant. The Ukrainian air force reported a total of 78 missiles and 106 drones being launched, with some being intercepted and others being jammed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, stating that it was inhumane for Russian President Putin to choose such a holy day for his assault. The situation was dire, with Ukrainians seeking shelter in metro stations to protect themselves.
The attack also had repercussions in Russia, where a woman lost her life and three others were injured when debris from a downed drone caused a fire in a shopping center. The governor of North Ossetia-Alania reported that the explosion was caught on security footage and occurred outside the Alania Mall.
Tragically, the violence continued as Vice Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba announced that at least one person was killed in Ukraine's Dnipro region. The attack also disrupted heating for 155 residential buildings and left 500,000 people without heat in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added that one Russian missile even passed through Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
The Russian energy minister also confirmed that the country was once again attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure on a massive scale. Ukraine's air force reported multiple missile strikes in the eastern regions of Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava.
In response to the attack, the power distributor took necessary precautions to limit consumption. However, due to the ongoing security situation, it was difficult for energy workers to assess the damage caused. This led to preemptive power outages across the country, including in the capital city of Kyiv.
The situation was dire, with Ukraine's biggest private energy company, DTEK, reporting that their thermal power plant was targeted, making it the 13th attack on the country's power grid this year. The CEO of DTEK, Maxim Timchenko, called the attack a depraved and evil act that deserves a strong response.
In Kharkiv, at least seven strikes were reported, causing fires and injuring several people. The mayor of Kharkiv urged citizens to stay in safe places as ballistic missiles continued to fly towards the city.
Meanwhile, Russia's Ministry of Defence reported that they had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over various regions and the Azov Sea. However, they did not mention the incident in North Ossetia-Alania.
Tragically, the violence was not limited to Ukraine, as four people were killed in the Kursk region due to Ukrainian shelling. Regional head Alexander Khinshtein reported that three people died in a residential area and one in a hospital.
The situation was tense and uncertain, with the 9NEWS app providing updates on the breaking news. People were urged to stay informed and stay safe as the conflict continued to escalate.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
