Russia has launched a “massive attack” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, according to a Ukrainian minister on Wednesday, though the specific cities targeted were not disclosed. Russian cruise and ballistic missiles also hit several residential areas in the Ukrainian cities of Kryvyi Rih and Kharkiv, with reports indicating that multiple people were killed in the attacks.
Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine on Wednesday morning, with the Ukrainian air force reporting that Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from the Black Sea.
Energy Sector Hit
“The enemy is again massively attacking the energy sector,” said Ukraine’s Minister of Energy, German Galushchenko, on Telegram. Ukraine is facing one of its harshest winters of the war, as Moscow intensifies its aerial assaults, with Russian forces advancing on the frontlines in the east.
“The transmission system operator is taking the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize the negative consequences for the energy system,” he added.
Attacks on Cities
On Tuesday, a ballistic missile struck an apartment building in Kryvyi Rih, killing one person and injuring 15, four of whom are in serious condition. “The monsters landed a direct hit on a four-storey residential block with 32 apartments,” said the head of the city’s military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, on Telegram.
The body of one man pulled from the rubble could not be revived, according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak. Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s hometown, is a steelmaking city with a pre-war population of over 600,000.
The city of Kharkiv was also heavily targeted by a “massive missile attack,” with Mayor Igor Terekhov reporting a series of explosions and ongoing missile strikes. At least three people were wounded in Kharkiv, and the regional governor confirmed seven Russian missile strikes. Casualty numbers are still being assessed.
Christmas Under Attack
“While other countries of the world are celebrating Christmas, Ukrainians are continuing to suffer from endless Russian attacks,” Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated on Telegram.
Russia has increased its advances in eastern Ukraine in recent months, aiming to secure as much territory as possible before the US presidential inauguration in January. Moscow’s forces claim to have taken more than 190 Ukrainian settlements this year, leaving Kyiv struggling to maintain its defense due to shortages of manpower and ammunition.
Additional Reports
Russia’s defense ministry reported on Wednesday that its forces had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight, while the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the launch of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, though their destinations were unclear at the time.
