War in Ukraine: a “massive” attack on the energy network, the Pope calls for “gestures of dialogue”… an update on the situation

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Wednesday, December 25, 2024, discover the latest news about this conflict.

Russia has launched a “massive” attack on the Ukrainian energy network

Russia launched a “massive” attack on Ukraine's energy grid on Wednesday, hitting cities in the country's east with cruise and ballistic missiles, Ukrainian and Russian officials said. “Today, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane?”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Russia launched more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones, he added. At least six people were injured in a missile attack in Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehoubov said, while the Ukrainian air force reported that it was a ballistic missile. “Non-residential civilian infrastructure” has been damaged, Oleh Syniehoubov said via Telegram.

Dnipro Governor Serhiy Lysak also reported on Telegram that there was a “massive” Russian attack on the region. “(The Russian military) is trying to destroy the region's energy system,”, he said. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galuchenko wrote on Facebook that Russia was carrying out a “massive attack on the energy network”.

The grid operator imposed restrictions on electricity supply to minimize the impact of the attack, he added. Earlier Wednesday, the Ukrainian military issued a nationwide air alert in response to Russian cruise missile launches. Air defenses shot down 59 of 78 Russian missiles and 54 of 102 drones launched overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, the Ukrainian military said.

The country's largest private energy company, DTEK, reported “serious damage” to its electrical equipment. “This is the 13th massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector this year and the 10th massive attack on the company's energy facilities,” DTEK reported on Telegram. Local authorities and the air force reported missile overflights in the eastern, central, southern and western regions.

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The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Moscow had carried out a “massive strike” against critical energy facilities in Ukraine that support the work of the military-industrial complex. Meanwhile, the governor of Russia's Kursk region reported four dead and five injured after shelling attributed to Ukrainian forces in the town of Lgov.

Russia launched 70 missiles at Ukraine on Christmas Day, attack 'inhumane'

Russia launched more than 70 missiles and over 100 explosive drones at Ukraine on Wednesday morning, targeting its energy system, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, denouncing an attack “inhumane” on Christmas Day by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

“Today Putin has consciously chosen Christmas for his attack. What could be more inhumane ?” Mr. Zelensky said on Telegram. “More than 50 missiles” and some drones were shot down, but some strikes caused power outages in some regions, he added.

A Russian missile targeting Ukraine crossed Moldovan and Romanian airspace

A Russian missile targeting Ukraine crossed Moldovan and Romanian airspace during a massive attack by Moscow against its Ukrainian neighbor Wednesday morning, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said.

“A Russian missile passed through Moldovan and Romanian airspace, which is a reminder that Russia is not only threatening Ukraine”, Mr. Sybiga launched on the social network X.

Pope calls for “silencing the guns in martyred Ukraine”

Pope Francis called on Wednesday for “silencing the guns in martyred Ukraine”, calling for “gestures of dialogue” as Russia launched more than 70 missiles at the Ukrainian energy grid on Christmas Day this morning.

“May the guns be silent in martyred Ukraine! May we have the audacity to open the door to negotiation and gestures of dialogue and encounter, to achieve a just and lasting peace”, the Argentine pontiff said in his Christmas message to Vatican.

London denounces “Putin's bloody war machine”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced Wednesday “Putin's bloody and brutal war machine” after the massive attack of Russian missiles and explosive drones on the Ukrainian energy system, which left one person dead, on Christmas Day.

“I condemn this attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure”, the Labour leader wrote in a statement, saying he wanted to “pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the leadership of President Zelensky in the face of the new drone and missile attacks from Putin's bloody and brutal war machine, without any respite, even at Christmas”.