The Russian government launched what it described as “big” attack on “critical” energy targets in Ukraine on Christmas Day.
The massive drone and missile attack on Kharkiv led to power cuts and outages across Ukraine, including its capital Kyiv. Ukrainian defense authorities were initially mum on casualty estimates and figures.
“This Christmas terror is (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin's answer to those who talked about a 'Christmas truce,'” Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, posted to social media site X Wednesday.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted “Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane,” saying: “Every major Russian strike takes time to prepare. It's never a spontaneous decision. It's a conscious choice not not only on targets, but also on time and date.”
On Christmas Day, the Russian government publicly hailed the strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure as a military success.
“This morning, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a large-scale strike with long-range precision weapons and a drone strike on critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine that ensure the operation of the military-industrial complex,” the Russian Defense Ministry said said on Telegram. “The aim of the strike has been achieved. All facilities were struck. “
The human cost of the attacks was palpable and chilling as those in the attacked country celebrated the holiday nearly three years into the war. Reuters reports that “half a million people in the Kharkiv region were left without heating, in temperatures just a few degrees Celsius above zero, while there were blackouts in the capital Kyiv and elsewhere. “
More from Rolling Stone
Best of the rolling stones
Register for RollingStone Newsletter. For the latest news, read on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.
