Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched a large missile and drone barrage focusing on Ukraine’s power infrastructure on Wednesday, putting a thermal energy plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning, Ukrainian officers stated.
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Russia’s Protection Ministry stated it had carried out a “huge strike” on what it stated had been important power services in Ukraine that assist the work of Kyiv’s military-industrial advanced, Reuters reported.
In an announcement on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated over 70 missiles, together with ballistic missiles, and over 100 assault drones had been used to strike Ukraine’s energy sources.
“Putin intentionally selected Christmas for an assault. What may very well be extra inhumane?” Zelenskyy stated. “They proceed to battle for a blackout in Ukraine.”
Ukraine shot down 59 of 78 Russian missiles and 54 of 102 drones, Reuters cites Ukraine’s navy as saying.
Ukrainian Vitality Minister Herman Halushchenko stated Russia once more “massively assaults power infrastructure,” in a Fb assertion. Ukraine’s Air Power famous a number of missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava areas east of the nation.
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“The (electrical energy) distribution system operator takes the mandatory measures to restrict consumption to attenuate unfavorable penalties for the facility system,” he stated. “As quickly because the safety scenario permits, power staff will set up the injury brought about.”
Ukraine’s greatest non-public power firm, DTEK, stated Russia struck one in every of its thermal energy crops, making it the thirteenth assault on Ukraine’s energy grid this yr.
“Denying mild and heat to hundreds of thousands of peace-loving folks as they rejoice Christmas is a wicked and evil act that have to be answered,” Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account.
Ukrainian state power operator Ukrenergo instituted preemptive energy outages throughout the nation on account of a “huge missile assault,” resulting in electrical energy going out in a number of districts of the capital, Kyiv.
At the very least seven strikes focused Kharkiv, sparking fires throughout town, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At the very least three folks had been injured, native authorities stated.
“Kharkiv is underneath huge missile hearth. A collection of explosions rang out within the metropolis and there are nonetheless ballistic missiles flying within the route of town. Keep in secure locations,” Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated.
Ukraine’s power grid has been closely focused since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “terror” ways by making an attempt to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and minimize off heating to civilians all through the winter.
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