The Russian Ministry of Defense has confirmed a massive attack on the energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The ministry assessed that “the aim of the attack was achieved, all objects were hit.” Other data is provided by the Ukrainian website. US President Joe Biden condemned the attack, calling it “scandalous”. He also informed that he had instructed the Pentagon to continue increased supplies of weapons to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that only by noon on Wednesday – Christmas Day – 184 Russian drones and missiles were detected throughout the country, including 59 missiles and 54 drones shot down, and another 52 drones “did not reach their destination”. The attacked facilities were located in Kharkov, Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporozhye.
In Kharkov alone, over 70 buildings were destroyed
As reported by the BBC, according to local officials and the Ukrainian website Suspilne, at least four people were killed in Tuesday's Russian attacks in the Dnepropetrovsk region and in the attacks that took place on Wednesday in Donetsk, Kherson and Kharkov. In Kharkov alone, 74 buildings were destroyed as a result of Russian airstrikes, said the mayor of this city, Ihor Terekhov.
Destruction after Russian shelling of KharkovPhoto from December 23, 2024PAP/Mykola Kalyeniak
Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK said that Russia attacked its thermal power plants and seriously damaged the equipment. The damage has now been repaired. According to the company, this year was the thirteenth massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the tenth on DTEK energy companies.
On Wednesday morning throughout the territory Ukraine An air alert was announced due to the threat from Russian attack drones. The Ukrinform news agency reported that Russian troops also fired Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
Biden reacts to 'outrageous attack' Command to the Pentagon
“The aim of this outrageous and disgusting attack was to deprive the Ukrainian people of access to heat and electricity during the winter and to endanger the Ukrainian power grid,” the president's published statement said.
READ ALSO: Zelensky: what could be more inhumane?
Biden said he has directed the Department of Defense to continue increasing arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Joe Biden in the White HousePhoto from December 8, 2024PAP/EPA/RON SACHS / POOL
Main photo source: PAP/Mykola Kalyeniak