KYIV
\nRussia launched a massive missile barrage targeting Ukraine\u2019s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning.
\nUkrainian energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, said Russia again \u201cmassively attacks energy infrastructure,\u201d in a Facebook statement. Ukraine\u2019s Air Force alerted multiple missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava regions east of the country.
\n\u201cThe (electricity) distribution system operator takes the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize negative consequences for the power system,\u201d he said. \u201cAs soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will establish the damage caused.\u201d
\nUkraine\u2019s biggest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia struck one of their thermal power plants Wednesday morning, making it the 13th attack on Ukraine\u2019s power grid this year.
\n\u201cDenying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,\u201d Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account.
\nZelensky condemns Russian \u2018inhumane\u2019 Christmas attack
\nUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday denounced an \u201cinhumane\u201d attack from Russia, which launched dozens of missiles and drones on his war-torn country\u2019s energy grid on Christmas Day.
\nThe country woke up at 5:30 am (0330 GMT) to an air raid alarm, shortly followed by air force reports that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
\n\u201cPutin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones. The target is our energy system,\u201d Zelensky said.
\nThis was the 13th large-scale strike on Ukraine\u2019s energy system this year, the latest in Russia\u2019s campaign targeting the power grid during winter. The air force shot down over 50 missiles, Zelensky said.
\n\u201cUnfortunately, there are some hits. As of now, there are blackouts in several regions,\u201d he said. Engineers were working to repair the system, but Ukraine\u2019s DTEK energy company said the attack severely damaged equipment of thermal power plants, and regional officials reported power cuts.
\nUkrainian state energy operator, Ukrenergo, applied preemptive power outages across the country, due to a \u201cmassive missile attack,\u201d leading to electricity going out in several districts of the capital, Kyiv.
\nAt least seven strikes targeted Kharkiv sparking fires across the city, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At least three people were injured, local authorities said.
\n\u201cKharkiv is under massive missile fire. A series of explosions rang out in the city and there are still ballistic missiles flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places,\u201d Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KYIV Russia launched a massive missile barrage targeting Ukraine\u2019s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning. Ukrainian energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, said Russia again \u201cmassively attacks energy infrastructure,\u201d in a Facebook statement. Ukraine\u2019s Air Force alerted multiple missiles fired at Kharkiv, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":451687,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-451669","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n