Ukrainians sheltered in metro stations on Christmas morning as Russian missiles and drones rained down on their cities.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault on Ukraine’s power infrastructure that he stated sought to plunge his individuals into darkness.
“Putin deliberately chose Christmas,” he stated on Wednesday. “What could be more inhumane?”
Russia’s defence ministry stated it carried out a “massive strike” on power amenities that it stated supported Kyiv’s army.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated the strikes have been “bloody and brutal…with no respite even at Christmas”.
Within the east, Kremlin forces declare to have captured the settlement of Vidrodzhennia as they proceed to make territorial positive aspects.
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Folks take shelter at a metro station throughout an air raid alert in Kyiv. Pic: Reuters
‘Christmas present to Ukraine’
Areas throughout the nation reported missile and drone strikes as Ukrainians spend one other vacation season dealing with assaults on their energy infrastructure.
Kyiv’s army stated it downed 59 Russian missiles and 54 drones, however others made it by way of their air defences.
Strikes in Kharkiv wounded six individuals and left half 1,000,000 within the area with out heating, as temperatures hovered just some levels above zero.
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Firefighters work within the wreckage of houses in Kharkiv. Pic: Reuters
“Kharkiv 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,” Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated.
Within the capital, residents confronted blackouts whereas in Dnipro area one individual was killed.
Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysa stated the Russian military is attempting to destroy the area’s energy system.
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Sophia Sq., Kyiv, on Christmas Eve. Pic: Reuters
Ukrainians, marking their second Christmas since altering to rejoice on the identical day because the West, sheltered in underground metro stations because the lethal salvo of missiles soared in the direction of them.
“Russia’s Christmas gift to Ukraine: more than 70 missiles and 100 drones,” US ambassador Bridget Brink stated. “For the third holiday season, Russia weaponises winter.”
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A army chaplain conducts a Christmas Eve mass for troopers on the entrance line. Pic: Reuters/72nd Mechanised Brigade
4 useless in Kursk area
Within the east, Ukrainian troopers celebrated Christmas by candlelight as they ate collectively close to the frontline.
Combating continues to be powerful in Donbas, as Russian forces push ahead and make regular positive aspects.
On Wednesday, Russia’s defence ministry stated its forces had taken the settlement of Vidrodzhennia.
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Troopers eat by candlelight on Christmas Eve close to the entrance line. Pic: Reuters/thirty third Separate Mechanised Brigade
Throughout the border, in Russia’s Kursk area, 4 individuals have been killed and 5 injured within the city of Lgov after Ukrainian shelling, the area’s performing governor stated.
“A five-storey residential building, two single-storey residential buildings and a single-storey beauty salon were seriously damaged,” Alexander Khinshtein wrote on Telegram.
Pope requires peace talks
Within the Vatican, Pope Francis talked about the battle in Ukraine immediately throughout his Christmas Day message, calling for “the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation”.
Talking to hundreds of individuals from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, he stated: “May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine!”
He additionally known as for “gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace”.
