Air raid alarms sounded over large parts of Ukraine on Christmas morning. In the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, one person has been killed and several people have been injured.
Russia is said to have fired over 70 robots and 100 drones against the country’s energy system, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
– Putin deliberately chose to attack during Christmas. What could be more inhuman?, says Zelensky.
He adds that Ukraine’s air force shot down over 50 robots.
– Unfortunately, there are some hits. There are power outages in several regions.
Attacks against the power grid
Emergency shutdown of the electricity grid was carried out in several regions due to the attack, according to state-owned Ukrenergo, which is responsible for the country’s main grid.
The governor of Dnipropetrovsk in southeastern Ukraine, Serhiy Lysak, says Russia is attacking the power grid in the region.
“The enemy is trying to destroy the region’s energy system. Stay in a safe place until the air warning has been lifted. Take care!”, he writes on Telegram.
Gathering in the subways
Explosions have also been heard in the cities of Dnipro, Krementjug and Kryvyi Rih, among others. When the air raid alarms began to sound in the cities, the Christmas celebrations had to begin with the residents seeking shelter in the subway stations.
– Of course I want to be at home and celebrate, but we had to take shelter because it is scary to stay at home, says Sofia Lytvynenko, a resident of Kiev, to the Reuters news agency.
Another resident of Kiev, Oleksandra, said that “Christmas is not cancelled”, despite the attacks. She planned to continue enjoying food, family and friends as soon as it was safe to return home.
Zelenskyi on the attacks: “Conscious choice”
It is only the second year that Ukraine celebrates Christmas on December 25. The government changed the date last year from January 7, which is the date most Orthodox Christians traditionally celebrate Christmas, as a mark against Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attacks both inhumane and that the timing was a “deliberate choice”.
According to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, a Russian missile has also passed through Ukrainian airspace. He condemns the attacks and calls them “Christmas terror”. On X he writes:
“A Russian missile crossed Moldovan and Romanian airspace, reminding that Russia does not only threaten Ukraine”
The government of Moldova confirms that a militia crossed the country.