Ukraine: Christmas under the bombs, massive attack in the night, several cities and energy infrastructures hit.

Christmas night 2024 will be remembered as one of the most tragic for Ukraine, with a massive air strike by Russia that hit several cities in the country. A missile and drone attack targeted critical infrastructure, causing blackouts and significant damage, as well as injuries among the civilian population.

The cities affected and the damages

Kiev media reported that Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers took to the skies overnight, launching Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. The cities most affected included Kharkiv, Dnipro e kremenchuk.

A Kharkiv, at least seven rocket attacks devastated the city, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. The attacks caused fires and severe damage to civilian infrastructure. Two people were injured and are currently hospitalized.

Further explosions occurred in Dnipro and Kremenchuk, forcing many Ukrainian cities to impose emergency blackouts to protect the already severely compromised power system.

Attack on the energy system

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed that the energy sector was one of the main targets of the Russian attack. In a statement on Telegram, Galushchenko said: “The enemy is again massively attacking the energy sector. The transmission system operator is taking necessary measures to limit consumption and minimize the negative consequences.”

No cities were specifically affected, but the impact was widespread, with power outages leaving many areas in the dark on Christmas Eve.

International reactions

As the attack unfolded, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for a “just and lasting peace” by 2025. “This Christmas shows how urgent it is to end the war. 2025 must be the year of peace for our country,” Zelensky said in an address to the nation.

In the United States, President Joe Biden is reportedly considering significant new sanctions against the Russian energy sector. According to the Washington Post, these sanctions could be announced in the final weeks of the current administration, in response to the Russian attacks and their devastating impact on Ukraine.

An endless conflict

With Christmas Day 2024, the war in Ukraine reaches day 1.036. Hopes for peace still seem distant, while violence and bombings continue to deeply mark the social and infrastructural fabric of the country. Christmas night, which should represent a symbol of hope and reconciliation, was instead the scene of destruction and pain for millions of Ukrainians.

The situation remains extremely tense, with the Ukrainian government and the international community calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and measures to ensure the safety of the civilian population. However, the prospects of a resolution to the conflict still seem distant, in a Christmas marked by the shadow of war.