In a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as “inhumane,” Russia carried out a massive drone and missile attack on Christmas Day, leaving parts of Ukraine without power and heating. The attack, targeting energy infrastructure, was seen as a deliberate and calculated effort to inflict maximum disruption during the holiday season.
Targeting Energy Infrastructure
According to Ukraine’s defense ministry, Russia launched 78 missiles and 106 drones, of which 113 were intercepted. Despite these efforts, power outages were reported in several regions, including Kyiv and the war-torn Kharkiv area, where half a million people were left without heating in freezing conditions.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of seeking to plunge Ukraine into darkness. “The targets are our energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine,” he said, highlighting the Kremlin’s sustained campaign against civilian infrastructure.
A Calculated Strike
Zelenskyy underscored that such large-scale strikes require extensive planning, dismissing any notion that this was a spontaneous attack. “Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision,” he said. The timing, he noted, was deliberately chosen to coincide with Christmas, intensifying the emotional and psychological toll on the Ukrainian people.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed that transmission operators had taken emergency measures to mitigate the impact on the energy grid, but the damage underscored the fragility of Ukraine’s power network under continued assault.
Symbolic Defiance Amid Religious Shift
Ukraine’s decision to officially recognize December 25 as Christmas Day in 2023, instead of January 7—a date traditionally observed by the Russian Orthodox Church—marked a cultural and religious shift away from Russian influence. The attack, coinciding with this first Western-style Christmas celebration, added a layer of symbolic defiance as Zelenskyy declared, “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not spoil Christmas.”
Criticism of Calls for Cease-Fire
The attack also drew sharp responses from Ukrainian officials toward calls for a Christmas cease-fire. Foreign Minister Andrei Sybiha criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had advocated for a truce in the lead-up to Christmas. Sybiha referred to the strikes as “Putin’s response to those who spoke about illusionary ‘Christmas ceasefire.’”
Global Condemnation
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation, with Western allies reaffirming their support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s message of resilience, despite the hardships, resonated across social media as he pledged that Russia’s efforts to sow chaos and despair would fail.
As Ukrainians face the harsh winter under siege, their resistance remains a testament to their determination to fight for their sovereignty. But the cost of these relentless attacks—both in infrastructure and human suffering—continues to mount.
