Ukraine is facing power outages in several regions following a major attack by Russian jets launched earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday.
Zelensky said Ukraine was hit by more than 70 missiles, including cruise missiles, and 100 drones on Christmas Day, targeting the country's electrical infrastructure.
“Today, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more brutal?” Zelensky wrote on an English-language blog.
Russia continues to “strive to blackout Ukraine,” he added.
“According to the first reports,” the Ukrainian military managed to shoot down more than 50 missiles and “a large number of drones,” Zelensky said.
“Unfortunately there have been hits,” he added.
“As of now, there are power outages in several regions. Power engineers are working to restore power as soon as possible,” he wrote.
Many injured in 'massive' airstrike
Air raid sirens sounded across the country on Wednesday morning.
Russian Tu-95 MS warplanes fired several cruise missiles at Ukraine over the Black Sea, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
At least four people were injured in the northeastern city of Kharkiv when large rockets were fired, according to authorities.
Among them was a 39-year-old man who was injured in the Saltivskyi region and was taken to hospital, according to the region's military governor, Oleh Syniehubov.
“The other two victims are in critical condition,” Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.
In addition, one person was injured when a residential building in another district was hit.
“The Russian army carried out at least seven attacks,” Syniehubov said, reporting fires and damage to civilian infrastructure.
According to Terekhov, a fire broke out after the Kiev region was hit in Kharkiv.
Explosives were also reported in the city east of Dnipro, according to state news agency Ukrinform.
Due to the ongoing attacks, measures have been taken in Ukraine to reduce electricity consumption, reports Ukrinform, citing the energy grid operator Ukrenergo.
Heavy fighting is reported in Pokrovsk
Meanwhile, Russian attackers and Ukrainian defenders clashed again in fierce battles for the most important city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
The General Staff in Kiev said in its Wednesday evening situation report that 35 Russian attacks were reported in the city on the outskirts of Donbass during the day.
“Three Russian soldiers are concentrated here against us,” regional commander Viktor Trehubov was quoted as saying by the UNIAN news agency.
He said, “The battles here are very intense because the Russian occupiers are throwing all their forces forward and trying to cut through the defense lines of our soldiers.”
In the attempted attack on Pokrovsk, the Russian attackers reportedly suffered heavy losses. In the previous day alone, 133 Russian soldiers were killed, he said.
These statistics could not be independently verified.
Russian troops tried to advance as close as possible to the outskirts of Pokrovsk and break through the defenders left and right.
Trehovov explained the situation, saying, “Since the fighting in the city itself is not very interesting, the enemy is trying to force the battles on the outskirts to force the Ukrainian forces to retreat and avoid a direct attack.”
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