Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine, targeting energy facilities with ballistic and cruise missiles
Photo: Illustrative photo: Defense Forces of South of Ukraine/Telegram
On Christmas morning, following the nightly drone launches, the Russian Federation launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine, utilizing both ballistic and cruise missiles. Energy facilities were once again targeted.
Rubryka reports what is currently known about the extensive shelling.
The Air Force cautioned that there were Tu-95MS aircraft in the Russian Federation's airspace, which fired cruise missiles. Additionally, Russian invaders reportedly launched Kaliber missiles from the Black Sea and ballistic activity was also observed.
Kharkiv was bombarded by a barrage of ballistic missiles. The city was rocked by frequent explosions and there were reports of multiple missile launches targeted at the city. The hits caused fires to break out and significant damage to the city's infrastructure. Unfortunately, there are also reports of casualties.
In general, explosions were heard in a number of regions. In particular, they were heard in Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kremenchuk in Poltava region, as well as Samara, Kryvyi Rih, Kirovohrad region, Zaporizhzhia, and Svitlovodsk.
The occupiers again massively attacked the energy sector. Preventive power outages have been introduced across Ukraine.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has already stated that the Russians, as before, are shelling energy infrastructure facilities.
"The enemy is again massively attacking the energy sector. The transmission system operator is taking the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize negative consequences for the energy system," he wrote.
According to him, as soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will clarify the damage caused.
DTEK [the largest private investor in the energy sector of Ukraine – ed.] reported serious damage to equipment.
"This is the thirteenth massive attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the tenth massive attack on the company's energy enterprises," the message says.
Power engineers are already working to restore the equipment.
Kharkiv
Many explosions have already been heard in Kharkiv. The enemy attacked the city with ballistics. After the enemy strikes, several fires broke out, there is damage to civilian non-residential infrastructure. According to the mayor of the city, Ihor Terekhov, there are also victims among the residents:
- three victims are known, two of them are in serious condition in the Saltivskyi district.
- There is a strike in the Kyiv district. A fire broke out on the spot, the glazing of surrounding buildings was damaged.
- In the Nemyshlianskyi district, a private house was hit. One person was injured.
In turn, the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Synehubov, reported that as of 08.13, there were six victims.
"There were several fires in non-residential buildings, rescuers continue to eliminate the consequences of enemy attacks," the head of the region added
Dnipro
The network is also reporting on the Dnipro's heavy shelling, with reports of multiple explosions heard. There were reportedly at least 12 explosions in the regional center.
Other regions
The sounds of explosions were also repeatedly heard in Kremenchuk, Poltava region.
Andrii Malitsky, the head of the Svitlovodsk community in the Kirovohrad region, published a report on the functioning of the air defense.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, public transportation has halted due to the high risk of missile strikes. It should also be noted that explosions were reported in Burshtyn, a city in this region, where the last major missile attack on December 13 caused widespread loss of heating and hot water.
Meanwhile, the head of Ivano-Frankivsk reported on the work of the air defense, and also warned that power outages are possible.
"No hits in the community and no debris due to preliminary data! Power outages and there may be poor communication in certain areas," Martsinkiv wrote.
Poland raises its aviation due to the shelling of Ukraine
"Attention, due to the air attack of the Russian Federation, which may hit objects located, including in western Ukraine, military aviation has begun operating in our airspace," the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said in a statement.
Combat aircraft, ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance have been put on alert in Poland. Forces and assets are being directed to ensure the security of territories adjacent to Ukraine.
Missile flight over Moldova
The Air Force of Ukraine's armed forces reported that one of the Russian cruise missiles flew over Moldova heading for Chernivtsi.
Monitoring channels specify that the Russian missile traveled 140 km through Moldova and Romania – from the Yampil district to the northernmost Romanian district of Daraban, emerging in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine.
For reference:
On the morning of December 20, it is worth mentioning that the Russians fired five ballistic missiles towards Kyiv. Fortunately, all the missiles were successfully intercepted, but some debris fell in five areas of the city. As a result, several people were injured and a heating main was damaged.
